Space‐time clusters of dengue fever in Bangladesh

OBJECTIVE: To examine the space-time clustering of dengue fever (DF) transmission in Bangladesh using geographical information system and spatial scan statistics (SaTScan). METHODS: We obtained data on monthly suspected DF cases and deaths by district in Bangladesh for the period of 2000-2009 from Directorate General of Health Services. Population and district boundary data of each district were collected from national census managed by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. To identify the space-time clusters of DF transmission a discrete Poisson model was performed using SaTScan software. RESULTS: Space-time distribution of DF transmission was clustered during three periods 2000-2002, 2003-2005 and 2006-2009. Dhaka was the most likely cluster for DF in all three periods. Several other districts were significant secondary clusters. However, the…