Dengue Spread Information System (DSIS)

Abstract

Mosquitoes are responsible for transfer of many vector-borne diseases including Malaria, Zika and Dengue. These amount to 17% of the total infectious diseases across the globe, leading to a death toll approximately 700,000 annually. Dengue is a preventable viral infection transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. However, over the past 50 years, the number of dengue cases has increased by a whopping 30-fold. Every year an approximately 500,000 people are admitted with severe dengue, with an estimated 40,000 deaths. In several countries in south American continent and Asia, dengue is one of the leading causes of death. It is mainly found in tropical and sub-tropical regions, particularly surrounding urban and semi-urban areas. Historically, there has been an intensive increase in the number of dengue cases from 2000-2010 and, if adequately explored, essential information can be retrieved. Our work involves the development of the Dengue Spread Information System (DSIS), a geographic-health information system designed to highlight the spread of dengue cases in Iquitos, Peru, and San Juan, Puerto Rico from 1990 to 2013. The application is aimed at citizens, travelers, policymakers and researchers to analyze and interpret the change in risk factors leading to dengue outbreaks and develop essential early warning applications and policies to counter future dengue outbreaks.