Deciphering the Research Environment of Dengue Epidemiology: A Bibliometric Analysis

This bibliometric analysis presents a comprehensive evaluation of the contemporary medical literature concerning dengue epidemiology, with a particular emphasis on its global impact in the 21st century. Utilizing an informetric approach, the study offers a systematic overview of the research landscape, identifying trends and driving factors influencing scholarly output in this domain. A dataset comprising 2,982 peer-reviewed publications from the past decade was curated from the Web of Science Core Collection, using the keyword "Dengue Epidemiology" to ensure thematic relevance. Subsequent analysis was conducted using VOSviewer version 1.6.20 software to generate visual mappings based on variables including country of origin, keyword co-occurrence, affiliated academic institutions, and publication venues. The dominance of research output from non-endemic regions suggests a shift in global interest, potentially reflective of the expanding geographic distribution of Aedes aegypti, the primary vector of the dengue virus. This expansion may be influenced by climate change, facilitated by anthropogenic factors such as industrialization and increased global mobility. The concentration of literature within the disciplines of infectious diseases and public, environmental, and occupational health underscores the public health relevance of this arbovirus. These findings suggest that globalization, climate change, and evolving vector ecology are reshaping the geographic and academic focus of dengue research. If current environmental and developmental trajectories persist, dengue may become increasingly prevalent in previously unaffected regions, reinforcing its emergence as a growing global health threat in the 21st century.