Spatiotemporal spread of chikungunya virus in Sarawak, Malaysia

Dass S 1 , Ngui R 2 , Gill BS 3 , Chan YF 4 , Wan Sulaiman WY 2 , Lim YAL 2 Show all authors , Mudin RN 5 , Chong CK 6 , Sulaiman LH 7 , Sam IC 4

Affiliations 

  • 1 School of Mathematical & Computer Sciences, Heriot-Watt University Malaysia, 62200 Putrajaya, Malaysia
  • 2 Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur
  • 3 Institute for Medical Research, Jalan Pahang, 50588 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 4 Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 5 Vector Borne Disease Sector, Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, 62590 Putrajaya, Malaysia
  • 6 Office of the Deputy Director General of Health (Public Health), Ministry of Health Malaysia, Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, 62590 Putrajaya
  • 7 Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2021 08 02;115(8):922-931.
PMID: 33783526 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trab053

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We studied the spatiotemporal spread of a chikungunya virus (CHIKV) outbreak in Sarawak state, Malaysia, during 2009-2010.

METHODS: The residential addresses of 3054 notified CHIKV cases in 2009-2010 were georeferenced onto a base map of Sarawak with spatial data of rivers and roads using R software. The spatiotemporal spread was determined and clusters were detected using the space-time scan statistic with SaTScan.

RESULTS: Overall CHIKV incidence was 127 per 100 000 population (range, 0-1125 within districts). The average speed of spread was 70.1 km/wk, with a peak of 228 cases/wk and the basic reproduction number (R0) was 3.1. The highest age-specific incidence rate was 228 per 100 000 in adults aged 50-54 y. Significantly more cases (79.4%) lived in rural areas compared with the general population (46.2%, p<0.0001). Five CHIKV clusters were detected. Likely spread was mostly by road, but a fifth of rural cases were spread by river travel.

CONCLUSIONS: CHIKV initially spread quickly in rural areas mainly via roads, with lesser involvement of urban areas. Delayed spread occurred via river networks to more isolated areas in the rural interior. Understanding the patterns and timings of arboviral outbreak spread may allow targeted vector control measures at key transport hubs or in large transport vehicles.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

MeSH terms
Similar publications