Temporal evolution of dengue incidence rate in the central region of Peninsular Malaysia / Nur Izzah Jamil and Norziha Che Him

Dengue, a globally significant arthropod-borne viral disease that affects humans, is primarily transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito and is caused by four viruses known as DENV-1 to DENV-4, which are classified as flaviviruses. In Malaysia, dengue has been a major public health concern with high incidence rates, particularly in the central region of Peninsular Malaysia. The year 2019 witnessed the highest number of reported cases globally, with severe outbreaks occurring in several Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia. To better understand the temporal patterns of dengue incidence in the central region of Peninsular Malaysia, this study aimed to assess the temporal evolution of dengue incidence rates. Trend analysis was conducted using Dengue Incidence Rate (DIR) data from EW1-2013 to EW52-2019, calculated based on the number of dengue case notifications per week and district population estimates from the Malaysian census. The findings revealed that the temporal evolution of DIR in the central region exhibited a recurring pattern. The incidence rate tended to peak at the beginning of the year, followed by an increment in May (EW20) and another peak in November (EW45). Additional peaks were also detected in February, July, and December. These findings provide insights into the seasonal dynamics of dengue incidence in the central region of Peninsular Malaysia.