Epidemiological Trends of Dengue Fever Across Administrative Regions of Guyana, 2020–2022: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Confirmed Case Data
Abstract:
Dengue
fever remains a significant public health burden in Guyana, a low to
middle-income country in the Caribbean South American region with a climate
highly conducive to Aedes aegypti transmission. This study analyzed confirmed
dengue fever case records from Guyana's ten administrative regions for 2020,
2021, and 2022, derived from the Ministry of Health national disease
notification system. A total of 9,772 dengue fever cases were recorded over the
three-year study period: 1,719 in 2020, 4,384 in 2021, and 3,669 in 2022. The
sharpest burden was concentrated in regions 1, 6, and 2, which together
accounted for more than 60% of cumulative cases. Adults aged 25–44 years
constituted the largest affected age group across all years, accounting for
30.2%-34.1% of annual cases. A marginal female predominance was observed in 2021
and 2022, with females comprising 52.8% and 53.3% of cases, respectively.
Region 1 recorded the highest single-year count (1,372 in 2021), while Regions
3 and 5 reported no cases across all years. These findings underscore
persistent geographic heterogeneity in dengue transmission, the
disproportionate burden in economically active age groups, and the urgent need
to strengthen region-specific surveillance and implement integrated vector management
strategies in Guyana.
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