Zarfishan Tahir, Salma Hafeez, Aslam Chaudhry.
Spatial and seasonal variation of dengue fever in Lahore 2008.
Biomedica Jan ;26(2):166-72.

Objectives: 1. To find out the spatial and demographic profile of cases of dengue fever outbreak in Lahore (2008). 2. To find out the seasonal variation of the dengue fever outbreak. Study Period: Jan 2008 to Dec 2008. Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Setting: Bacteriologist laboratory at Institute of Public Health Lahore. Sample Size: All the cases reported from Lahore city to the Bacteriologist laboratory during the study period. Methodology: Blood samples from 3215 dengue suspected cases referred to Bacteriologist labora-tory from different areas of Lahore were tested for IgM antibodies by ELISA after subjecting them to initial screening by rapid immunochromatographic technique (ICT). Demographic and residen-tial data was recorded. Results and Conclusions: Among 3215 dengue suspected cases, 1766 (54.94%) were found serologi-cally reactive for IgM antibody. Reactive cases were stratified spatially according to administra-tive towns of Lahore. Higher positivity of dengue cases was observed in densely populated areas of the Lahore. Maximum reactive cases (73.21%) were observed during month of November. Patients in age group 20 – 29 years were more frequently affected (32.33%). Only 74 cases (4.1%) were chi-ldren below 9 years. Males (58.55%) were affected more commonly than females (41.44%). It is co-ncluded that during epidemic of dengue fever in Lahore (2008), more cases were observed from September to December from densely populated areas of Lahore in age group 20-29 years. Pro-tective measures should be adopted for at risk population. Our study forms the basis for public health measures for better control of vector.

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