Clinical intervention and molecular characteristics of a dengue hemorrhagic fever outbreak in Timor Leste, 2005.

In response to a January 2005 report of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) in Timor Leste, the World Health Organization sent a team to assist the National Hospital Guido Valadares (NHGV) in Dili with clinical case management and diagnostic support. The hospital reported 67 admissions including 8 deaths (case fatality rate approximately 12%) over the previous weeks with case histories clinically compatible with DHF. During the intervention, an additional 44 suspected dengue patients were admitted to the pediatric ward of NHGV. Among 41 patients with clinical diagnoses of dengue fever or DHF, 38 (93%) were laboratory confirmed. Although cause and effect cannot be definitely attributed, the case fatality rate decreased to 3.6% after the intervention with education about dengue management strategies.