Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics and spatiotemporal clustering patterns of dengue fever in Lincang, Yunnan province, from 2015 to 2024, and provide scientific evidence for the development and implementation of targeted prevention and control strategies.

Methods Descriptive epidemiological methods were used for the analysis on the epidemiological characteristics of dengue fever. Spatial autocorrelation and spatiotemporal scanning were conducted on the case and incidence data by using software Excel 2010, Joinpoint 5.1.0, ArcGIS 10.8, and SaTScan 10.3. The results were subsequently visualized through mapping.

Results A total of 2 591 dengue fever cases were reported in Lincang during 2015-2024, including 1 560 local cases and 1 031 imported cases (945 cases from other countries, mainly from Myanmar, and 86 cases from other areas in China). Global and local spatial autocorrelation analyses indicated significant spatial clustering of dengue fever incidence in Lincang in 2015, 2022, 2023, and 2024. High-high and high-low clustering were mainly in areas bordering Myanmar, especifically in Mengding township of Gengma Dai Autonomous county(Gengma county), Mangka township of Cangyuan Va Autonomous county(Cangyuan county), and Nansan township of Zhenkang county. Standard deviational ellipse and centroid analyses revealed a southeast-northwest distribution of dengue fever incidence, with the epidemic evolving from a point-source importation to a network-like spread pattern. Spatiotemporal scanning identified the primary and secondary clusters were all in Mengding township of Gengma county. The tertiary clustering was in Xiaomengtong township of Yongde county. The maximum scanning radius was 56.42 km, covering a total of 16 townships.

Conclusion High-risk clustering of dengue fever in Lincang were mainly in the China-Myanmar-border townships of Mengding in Gengma, Mangka in Cangyuan, and Nansan in Zhenkang. The disease originated from Myanmar then spread to other counties and districts in Lincang. Dengue fever is an imported infectious disease, it is still necessary to strengthen the cross-border transmission prevention and control of the disease and Aedes control efforts in key border counties.