An outbreak of type 2 dengue fever in the Seychelles, probably transmitted by Aedes albopictus (Skuse).

Between December 1976 and September 1977 the Seychelles group of islands in the Indian Ocean was struck by an extensive epidemic of dengue fever. The peak of the epidemic was in the last week of February. Type 2 dengue virus was isolated from patients and mosquitos. Aedes albopictus was the sole vector. The clinical picture was that of classical dengue. Haemorrhagic fever and the shock syndrome were not observed.Absenteeism from schools and offices, anamnestic questioning, and prevalence of antibodies in sera collected after the epidemic was over, indicated that approximately 75% of the population had been infected. Serological evidence was obtained of an epidemic of dengue in the islands more than 40 years earlier. This was confirmed by archival records.