Delineating dengue risk zones in Jaipur: An interdisciplinary approach to inform public health strategies

In Risk Analysis
Peer-reviewed Article
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Dengue fever (DF) is a pervasive public health concern in tropical climates, with
densely populated regions, such as India, disproportionately affected. Addressing this
issue requires a multifaceted understanding of the environmental and sociocultural
factors that contribute to the risk of dengue infection. This study aimed to identify
high-risk zones for DF in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, by integrating physical, demographic,
and epidemiological data in a comprehensive risk analysis framework. We
investigated environmental variables, such as soil type and plant cover, to characterize
the potential habitats of Aedes aegypti, the primary dengue vector. Concurrently,
demographic metrics were evaluated to assess the population’s susceptibility to dengue
outbreaks. High-risk areas were systematically identified through a comparative analysis
that integrated population density and incidence rates per ward. The results revealed
a significant correlation between high population density and an increased risk of
dengue, predominantly facilitated by vertical transmission. Spatially, these high-risk
zones are concentrated in the northern and southern sectors of Jaipur, with the northern
and southwestern wards exhibiting the most acute risk profiles. This study underscores
the importance of targeted public health interventions and vaccination campaigns in
vulnerable areas. It further lays the groundwork for future research to evaluate the
effectiveness of such interventions, thereby contributing to the development of robust
evidence-based strategies for dengue risk mitigation.

Author:
Shruti
Kanga
Priyanka
Roy
Suraj Kumar
Singh
Gowhar
Meraj
Jatan
Debnath
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