Do People Living in Rural Areas Have Higher Risks of Vectorborne Diseases?
Abstract
Background:
-Vectorborne diseases are caused from bites of blood-feeding vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks to humans and other animals, while urban settings have greater access to healthcare, rural residents may experience increase exposure due to outdoor activities and closer proximity to nature
-This study aims to investigate whether rural populations are at higher risk of vector-borne diseases with a focus on tick and mosquito bites compared to urban areas in 16 counties of West Central Health District.
Methods:
A 10-year retrospective analysis of vector-borne disease surveillance data was conducted, covering 86 suspect urban cases and 161 suspect rural cases within the West Central Health District. The data was extracted from SENDSS and excluded out of district cases. From OASIS, population data was extracted, and a 10-year average population was calculated, with the urban (198,949) and rural (169,976) areas were used to calculate the proportions of vector-borne disease cases. Tick and mosquito bites were separately analyzed, with 51 urban and 144 rural tick bite cases, and 35 urban and 17 rural mosquito bite cases. Chi-square tests were performed to determine the statistical significance of the observed differences between rural and urban settings.
Results:
The analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in the overall risk of vector-borne diseases between rural and urban populations (p-value < 0.001), with rural areas showing a higher proportion of cases. Tick bites were more prevalent in rural areas (p-value < 0.001), suggesting they are a primary driver of the increased risk in these settings. In contrast, mosquito bites were more evenly distributed between urban and rural populations and did not show a significant disparity (p-value > 0.05).
Conclusions:
Rural populations in the West Central Health District are at significantly higher risk of vector-borne diseases, particularly due to tick exposure. Mosquito bites, while present, do not show the same geographic disparity.
Keywords
epidemiology, vectorborne disease, ticks, mosquito, risk factors
Conflict of Interest Form
I understand that if my abstract is selected and I agree to present that I must register for the conference and pay the registration fee to attend at least the day of the conference that I present. This includes all Learning Methods except invited Key Note Speakers.
Do People Living in Rural Areas Have Higher Risks of Vectorborne Diseases?
Background:
-Vectorborne diseases are caused from bites of blood-feeding vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks to humans and other animals, while urban settings have greater access to healthcare, rural residents may experience increase exposure due to outdoor activities and closer proximity to nature
-This study aims to investigate whether rural populations are at higher risk of vector-borne diseases with a focus on tick and mosquito bites compared to urban areas in 16 counties of West Central Health District.
Methods:
A 10-year retrospective analysis of vector-borne disease surveillance data was conducted, covering 86 suspect urban cases and 161 suspect rural cases within the West Central Health District. The data was extracted from SENDSS and excluded out of district cases. From OASIS, population data was extracted, and a 10-year average population was calculated, with the urban (198,949) and rural (169,976) areas were used to calculate the proportions of vector-borne disease cases. Tick and mosquito bites were separately analyzed, with 51 urban and 144 rural tick bite cases, and 35 urban and 17 rural mosquito bite cases. Chi-square tests were performed to determine the statistical significance of the observed differences between rural and urban settings.
Results:
The analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in the overall risk of vector-borne diseases between rural and urban populations (p-value < 0.001), with rural areas showing a higher proportion of cases. Tick bites were more prevalent in rural areas (p-value < 0.001), suggesting they are a primary driver of the increased risk in these settings. In contrast, mosquito bites were more evenly distributed between urban and rural populations and did not show a significant disparity (p-value > 0.05).
Conclusions:
Rural populations in the West Central Health District are at significantly higher risk of vector-borne diseases, particularly due to tick exposure. Mosquito bites, while present, do not show the same geographic disparity.
