What is the effect of dengue on poor urban areas?

Those living in poor urban areas have no means by which they can protect themselves from Dengue fever. Almost 137 million people in urban environments have no access to safe drinking water, while 600 million have access to no proper sanitation. In the Nigerian city of Ibadan only 3% of the people have access to piped water (Alirol, 2011). In poorer third world countries the access to clean water is difficult. With limited access to clean water, the risk of contracting dengue is overlooked in order to stay hydrated. People first and foremost need water, and when they have no other options, they are often left to use resources exposing them to Dengue. Often times, financial restrictions drive these issues. There are social factors that can affect an individual’s exposure and vulnerability to a disease in urban environments. Race, education, place of residence, socioeconomic status, and gender can all affect the possibility of becoming infected (Kjellstrom et al. 2007). Many people move to urban environments in search of jobs, so cities attract many different demographics. When people move from rural regions to urban environments they often have a lower standard of living. “Clean and sufficient drinking water, proper sanitation and drains for waste water, and proper solid waste management are the key health equity interventions in deprived urban areas, and cost-effective solutions exist” (Kjellstrom et al. 2007).  So, people who can’t afford to power their refrigerators or obtain proper sanitation and drains for water or clean sufficient drinking water are more bound to get dengue fever because of the static water that attracts mosquito populations. Poorer conditions create a higher risk of exposure to dengue fever.

    TopNews  (Date Accessed: February 22, 2013) http://topnews.ae/content/24179-philippines-death-toll-dengue-reaches-534

PLOS (2011) Population Density, Water Supply, and the Risk of Dengue Fever in Vietnam: Cohort Study and Spatial Analysis. (Date Accessed: February 21, 2013). http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1001082