An investigation of the spatial distribution of dengue cases in Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

Abstract

In recent decades, dengue fever has spread throughout developing countries, including Malaysia. Understanding the distribution pattern is thus important for the sustainability of urbanization. The goal of this study is to examine the trend of dengue cases reported in Johor Bahru District from 2015 to 2019, as well as the spatial pattern of dengue transmission in relation to weather parameters. The distribution pattern and spatial mean centre for dengue cases were found to be localized in the centre of Johor Bahru region, according to spatial statistical analysis. The extended polygon of dengue cluster spanned from the east to the west of Johor Bahru district, according to directional distribution. The least standard distance for dengue cases was 0.104 m in 2015, and the greatest was 0.120 m in 2018, whereas dengue cases in 2016, 2017, and 2019 were measured at 0.111 m and 0.116 m, 0.106 m respectively. Dengue cases in Johor Bahru district were likewise concentrated, according to the average nearest neighbour analysis. Temperature (r = 0.222) was found to be positively connected with dengue cases, although rainfall (r = −0.124) and relative humidity (r = −0.152) were in contrast with dengue cases throughout the five years of study period. The outcomes of the these spatial statistical analyses revealed that dengue cases concentrated in the east to west of the research region from 2015 to 2019. Temperature is determined to be a substantial positive factor correlated for most study years.

Keywords:

• Dengue fever
• standard distance
• mean spatial center
• directional distribution
• temperature
• rainfall

Acknowledgments

The author would like to convey their heartfelt appreciation to all organizations engaged in this effort. We also would like to offer thanks to the Research Management Centre, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) for the technical assistance rendered (600-RMC/GPM ST 5/3 (003/2021)

Authors’ contribution

This collaboration work was carried out among all the authors. Shahril Hamidun, Nazri Che Dom, Siti Aekbal Salleh, Samsuri Abdullah, Nopadol Precha and Rahmat Dapari, designed the study; Shahril Hamidun and Nazri Che Dom collected the data and performed the analysis and Samsuri Abdullah with Siti Aekbal Salleh interpreted the data and wrote the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Declarations

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.