Chikungunya Fever Outbreak in Mauritius, 2006
Author Information
Author(s): Beesoon Sanjay, Funkhouser Ellen, Kotea Navaratnam, Spielman Andrew, Robich Rebecca M.
Primary Institution: University of Mauritius
Hypothesis
Did the chikungunya fever outbreaks in Mauritius and Rodrigues Islands contribute to increased death rates in 2006?
Conclusion
The chikungunya fever epidemic in Mauritius was associated with an increase in crude death rates during the outbreak period.
Supporting Evidence
- Chikungunya fever outbreaks in Mauritius and Rodrigues Islands led to increased crude death rates.
- CDRs for Mauritius increased from 6.8 to 7.3 in 2006, coinciding with the chikungunya epidemic.
- Excess deaths were reported during the months of the chikungunya fever epidemic.
Takeaway
When many people got sick with chikungunya fever in Mauritius, more people also died than usual, suggesting the sickness might have caused some of those deaths.
Methodology
The study compared expected and observed death rates during the chikungunya outbreak using historical data.
Limitations
Information on the specific causes of death was unavailable, making it difficult to confirm the direct impact of chikungunya on mortality.
Participant Demographics
The population of Mauritius is approximately 1,250,000, with a noted increase in deaths among elderly persons (age >60 years).
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Confidence Interval
95% CI 2.2%–8.5%
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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