CONTRIBUTION OF LOCAL URBAN PARKS IN PROLIFERATION OF DENGUE VECTORS IN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

The importance of urban parks in the transmission of dengue fever should not be underestimated, and such parks should be incorporated into existing vector control initiatives. Our research seeks to identify the features of containers in major public parks in the city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where Aedes sp. mosquitoes breed. Additionally, this study utilized spatial analysis to create a map of the geographical distribution of Aedes sp. breeding sites. Five primary and popular parks in Kuala Lumpur located within a 400-metre radius of dengue outbreak areas in 2018 were chosen based on their high number of visitors. An entomological survey was carried out, and the coordinates and characteristics of water containers were documented. Average Nearest Neighbourhood (ANN) and Kernel Density estimation methods were utilized to assess the spatial distribution of Aedes sp. breeding. The ANN results indicated that the observed mean distance of Aedes sp. breeding was 35.55 metres for BP, 61.19 metres for TM, 67.77 metres for TT, 110.14 metres for KM and 25.43 metres for AD. Based on the z-score calculation, this study discovered a clustered breeding pattern at BP, TM and AD; a dispersed pattern was observed at TT, and a random pattern was detected at KM. Kernel Density estimation was applied to generate hotspot maps for each park. Two factors that were significantly associated with the abundance of Aedes sp. larvae were identified, which include the presence of rainwater (aOR=21.89, 95% CI=6.54-73.20) and the absence of a roof (aOR=4.19, 95% CI=2.38-7.37). By mapping dengue vectors and identifying key breeding containers and their features, this study serves as a valuable resource for public park management to establish focused vector control efforts.