Correlation of Dengue Fever with Rainfall and Other Environmental Indices in Dehiwala Medical Officer of Health Area during 2011 & 2012

Abstract

The present study examined the relationship between weather pattern and trend of dengue fever. It also assessed the incidence of dengue fever according to gender and Public Health Inspector (PHI) areas in 2011 and 2012 by using the notification register & the weekly return of communicable diseases (WRCD) of the Dehiwala Medical Officer of Health (MOH). The sample consisted of 1842 confirmed cases of dengue fever. Variables were weekly confirmed dengue cases, weekly rainfall, weekly mean humidity, weekly mean temperature, PHI areas, and gender. Findings suggested that the occurrence of confirmed dengue cases were positively correlated with, the rainfall 7 weeks preceding the registration of cases. There was no significant correlation between humidity and temperature with the confirmed dengue cases. Findings also revealed that females had higher incidence than males, and one PHI area (Badowita) reported the highest incidence for both years. We recommend that notification data of Dengue fever be analysed at MOH level to forecast outbreaks and intensify preventive measures.