Journal of Infection (2015) xx, 1e3
www.elsevierhealth.com/journals/jinf
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Epidemiologic characteristics of dengue in China (2010e2014) We read with great interest the recent review article by Verhagen and de Groot regarding the current epidemiology of dengue.1 Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection that causes a flu-like illness with potentially lethal complications. The worldwide incidence of dengue has increased markedly in recent decades.2e4 In early 2014, an expected outbreak of dengue, which originated and expanded in Guangdong province, overtook the scale of all previous dengue infections in China to become the largest dengue epidemic in the history of China (48,162total cases).5 This epidemic presented new epidemiological characteristics, which are important in furthering our understanding of dengue. Our data analysis showed that 53,743 cases of dengue were reported in China from 2010 to 2014. Among these cases, 49.66% occurred in males and 50.34% occurred in females. No deaths occurred from 2010 to 2013, whereas six deaths occurred in 2014. From 2010 to 2013, most cases (64.31%) involved individuals aged 20e49 years (20e29 years: 23.44%; 30e39years: 20.89%; 40e49years: 19.98%), whereas 2.80%, 8.62%, 11.66%, and 12.61% of cases occurred in individuals aged 0e9, 10e19, 50e59, and over 60 years, respectively. Surprisingly, in 2014, the dengue infection rate increased by 1.52% in individuals aged 0e9 years and 4.87% in individuals over 60 years. But the 20e49 year age group still remained the most heavily affected. However, Verhagen and de Groot stated that the vast majority (w95%) of dengue cases occur in children
www.elsevierhealth.com/journals/jinf
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Epidemiologic characteristics of dengue in China (2010e2014) We read with great interest the recent review article by Verhagen and de Groot regarding the current epidemiology of dengue.1 Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection that causes a flu-like illness with potentially lethal complications. The worldwide incidence of dengue has increased markedly in recent decades.2e4 In early 2014, an expected outbreak of dengue, which originated and expanded in Guangdong province, overtook the scale of all previous dengue infections in China to become the largest dengue epidemic in the history of China (48,162total cases).5 This epidemic presented new epidemiological characteristics, which are important in furthering our understanding of dengue. Our data analysis showed that 53,743 cases of dengue were reported in China from 2010 to 2014. Among these cases, 49.66% occurred in males and 50.34% occurred in females. No deaths occurred from 2010 to 2013, whereas six deaths occurred in 2014. From 2010 to 2013, most cases (64.31%) involved individuals aged 20e49 years (20e29 years: 23.44%; 30e39years: 20.89%; 40e49years: 19.98%), whereas 2.80%, 8.62%, 11.66%, and 12.61% of cases occurred in individuals aged 0e9, 10e19, 50e59, and over 60 years, respectively. Surprisingly, in 2014, the dengue infection rate increased by 1.52% in individuals aged 0e9 years and 4.87% in individuals over 60 years. But the 20e49 year age group still remained the most heavily affected. However, Verhagen and de Groot stated that the vast majority (w95%) of dengue cases occur in children
