The Epidemiological Characteristics and Dynamic Transmission of Dengue in China, 2013
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005095
- PMID
- 27820815
- PMCID
- PMC5098828
- OpenAlex
- W2552566552
- Study type
- Genomic study
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science (PLoS)
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
The findings provide historical context on the timing, geographic distribution, viral diversity, and movement patterns associated with dengue outbreaks in China in 2013. They may support interpretation of how imported infections and subsequent domestic spread were described in that episode, but the supplied evidence does not establish implications for present-day risk or control.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
The study examined the epidemiological pattern of dengue in China during 2013 and investigated how dengue viruses may have moved between outbreak locations.
Study design
This was a retrospective epidemiological and genomic analysis. National dengue case records were combined with dengue virus E-gene sequences, geographic analyses, maximum-likelihood phylogenetics, and Bayesian phylogeography.
Population and setting
The analysis covered dengue cases and available dengue virus sequences from outbreak regions in China during 2013, including locations in Yunnan and Guangdong. The case data came from the China Notifiable Disease Surveillance System, while sequences were obtained from GenBank.
Main findings
Yunnan and Guangdong had the largest numbers of imported cases. Imported infections were concentrated mainly from June through November, followed by local cases from July through December in areas with local transmission. The analysis identified dengue virus types 1 to 3 across outbreak locations and indicated introductions from Southeast Asia, followed by transmission between several Chinese locations, including spread from Guangzhou to neighboring Guangdong cities.
Public-health relevance
The findings provide historical context on the timing, geographic distribution, viral diversity, and movement patterns associated with dengue outbreaks in China in 2013. They may support interpretation of how imported infections and subsequent domestic spread were described in that episode, but the supplied evidence does not establish implications for present-day risk or control.
Important limitations
The supplied abstract does not state specific study limitations. This summary is therefore limited to the supplied single-article abstract and metadata; the original paper is required for decision-grade assessment of data completeness, sequence selection, analytical assumptions, and uncertainty in the inferred transmission pathways.
GIDS interpretation
The article is discoverable as historical evidence on dengue in China, genomic epidemiology, outbreak investigation, and transmission dynamics. It describes a 2013 episode and should not be interpreted as confirmation of a live surveillance signal or current transmission.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 10 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.