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Abstract
For the past ten years, the number of dengue cases has gradually increased in India. Dengue is driven by complex interactions among host, vector and virus that are influenced by climatic factors. In the present study, we focused on the extrinsic incubation period (EIP) and its variability in different climatic zones of India. The EIP was calculated by using daily and monthly mean temperatures for the states of Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Kerala. Among the studied states, a faster/low EIP in Kerala (8–15 days at 30.8 and 23.4 °C) and a generally slower/high EIP in Punjab (5.6–96.5 days at 35 and 0 °C) were simulated with daily temperatures. EIPs were calculated for different seasons, and Kerala showed the lowest EIP during the monsoon period. In addition, a significant association between dengue cases and precipitation was also observed. The results suggest that temperature is important in virus development in different climatic regions and may be useful in understanding spatio-temporal variations in dengue risk. Climate-based disease forecasting models in India should be refined and tailored for different climatic zones, instead of use of a standard model.
Emerging Microbes & Infections (2017) 6, e70 doi:10.1038/emi.2017.57; published online 9 August 2017
Acknowledgments
The authors SRM and SMU are grateful to the Director of the CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology for encouragement and support. SRM acknowledges the University of Liverpool for providing the opportunity to carry out this work under the University of Liverpool–India fellowship program. SMU and SRM also acknowledge CSIR for funding the project GENESIS (Genomics and Informatics Solutions for Integrating Biology). This research was partly funded by the National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections at the University of Liverpool in partnership with Public Health England (PHE) and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR, the Department of Health or Public Health England. CC also acknowledges support from the Farr Institute for Health Informatics Research (MRC Grant: MR/M0501633/1).
Supplementary Information for this article can be found on the Emerging Microbes & Infections website (http://www.nature.com/emi)
