Open AccessA Cluster of Dengue Cases in American Missionaries Returning from Haiti, 2010
Author(s) -
Tyler M. Sharp,
Parvathy Pillai,
Elizabeth Hunsperger,
Gilberto A. Santiago,
Teresa Anderson,
Trina Vap,
Jeremy Collinson,
Bryan Buss,
Thomas J. Safranek,
Mark J. Sotir,
Emily S. Jentes,
Jorge L. MuñozJordán,
D. Fermín Argüello
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
american journal of tropical medicine and hygiene
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.015
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1476-1645
pISSN - 0002-9637
DOI - 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0427
Subject(s) - dengue fever , travel medicine , dengue virus , quarter (canadian coin) , medicine , malaria , transmission (telecommunications) , cluster (spacecraft) , environmental health , virology , geography , immunology , engineering , electrical engineering , psychiatry , archaeology , computer science , programming language
Dengue is an acute febrile illness caused by four mosquito-borne dengue viruses (DENV-1 to -4) that are endemic throughout the tropics. After returning from a 1-week missionary trip to Haiti in October of 2010, 5 of 28 (18%) travelers were hospitalized for dengue-like illness. All travelers were invited to submit serum specimens and complete questionnaires on pre-travel preparations, mosquito avoidance practices, and activities during travel. DENV infection was confirmed in seven (25%) travelers, including all travelers that were hospitalized. Viral sequencing revealed closest homology to a 2007 DENV-1 isolate from the Dominican Republic. Although most (88%) travelers had a pre-travel healthcare visit, only one-quarter knew that dengue is a risk in Haiti, and one-quarter regularly used insect repellent. This report confirms recent DENV transmission in Haiti. Travelers to DENV-endemic areas should receive dengue education during pre-travel health consultations, follow mosquito avoidance recommendations, and seek medical care for febrile illness during or after travel.
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