BACKGROUND: Dengue, a mosquito-transmitted viral disease, is a risk for visitors in tropical and subtropical areas. Several participants in a community-assistance program in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, in August, 1995, reported dengue-like symptoms either before or soon after leaving the island. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to determine the extent of the outbreak, risk factors for illness, and the proportion of inapparent infections. Program participants were interviewed by telephone or mail, and asked to submit a serum sample for dengue diagnosis. A clinically-diagnosed case of dengue was defined as a person with fever and two or more of the following: headache, retro-orbital pain, myalgia, arthralgia, rash, or hemorrhagic manifestations. Serum specimens were tested for virus isolation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), plaque-reduction neutralization (PRNT) or anti-dengue IgM and IgG antibody. RESULTS: Thirty-two (97%) of the 33 program participants responded; 21 of the 32 (66%) provided at least one serum sample for study. The median age was 17 years; 20 (62%) were women. Of 32 respondents, 22 (69%) met the clinical case definition for dengue: 15 of them (68%) had a positive IgM antibody response and 7 did not submit a serum sample. Dengue 1 virus (DEN-1) was identified by PCR in one case and all 11 positive PRNT results. No asymptomatic infections were identified. No respondent used effective mosquito repellent, and only 2 (6%) used bednets. CONCLUSIONS: A DEN-1 outbreak with a high attack rate (69%) occurred in a group of young short-term community aid workers. There were no asymptomatic infections documented. Participants' rare use of bednets or effective mosquito repellent highlights the importance of providing travelers to tropical areas with information about dengue fever and the recommended precautions to protect against infection.
BACKGROUND: Dengue, a mosquito-transmitted viral disease, is a risk for visitors in tropical and subtropical areas. Several participants in a community-assistance program in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, in August, 1995, reported dengue-like symptoms either before or soon after leaving the island. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to determine the extent of the outbreak, risk factors for illness, and the proportion of inapparent infections. Program participants were interviewed by telephone or mail, and asked to submit a serum sample for dengue diagnosis. A clinically-diagnosed case of dengue was defined as a person with fever and two or more of the following: headache, retro-orbital pain, myalgia, arthralgia, rash, or hemorrhagic manifestations. Serum specimens were tested for virus isolation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), plaque-reduction neutralization (PRNT) or anti-dengue IgM and IgG antibody. RESULTS: Thirty-two (97%) of the 33 program participants responded; 21 of the 32 (66%) provided at least one serum sample for study. The median age was 17 years; 20 (62%) were women. Of 32 respondents, 22 (69%) met the clinical case definition for dengue: 15 of them (68%) had a positive IgM antibody response and 7 did not submit a serum sample. Dengue 1 virus (DEN-1) was identified by PCR in one case and all 11 positive PRNT results. No asymptomatic infections were identified. No respondent used effective mosquito repellent, and only 2 (6%) used bednets. CONCLUSIONS: A DEN-1 outbreak with a high attack rate (69%) occurred in a group of young short-term community aid workers. There were no asymptomatic infections documented. Participants' rare use of bednets or effective mosquito repellent highlights the importance of providing travelers to tropical areas with information about dengue fever and the recommended precautions to protect against infection.
Authors: Tyler M Sharp; Parvathy Pillai; Elizabeth Hunsperger; Gilberto A Santiago; Teresa Anderson; Trina Vap; Jeremy Collinson; Bryan F Buss; Thomas J Safranek; Mark J Sotir; Emily S Jentes; Jorge L Munoz-Jordan; D Fermin Arguello Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2012-01 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Abelardo C Moncayo; Jane Baumblatt; Dana Thomas; Kira A Harvey; David Atrubin; Danielle Stanek; Mark Sotir; Elizabeth Hunsperger; Jorge L Muñoz-Jordan; Emily S Jentes; Tyler M Sharp; D Fermin Arguello Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2014-11-04 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Tahaniyat Lalani; Heather Yun; David Tribble; Anuradha Ganesan; Anjali Kunz; Mary Fairchok; Elizabeth Schnaubelt; Jamie Fraser; Indrani Mitra; Karl C Kronmann; Timothy Burgess; Robert G Deiss; Mark S Riddle; Mark D Johnson Journal: J Travel Med Date: 2016-07-04 Impact factor: 8.490
Authors: Philippe Parola; Georges Soula; Pierre Gazin; Cedric Foucault; Jean Delmont; Philippe Brouqui Journal: Travel Med Infect Dis Date: 2006-03 Impact factor: 6.211