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Short communication: Dengue serotype 2 subtype III (‘Jamaica’) epidemic in Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Author(s) -
Patrick Van der Stuyft,
Alberto Gianella,
M Pirard,
Anaí Holzman,
Carlos Herrejón Peredo,
Marleen Boelaert,
Vance Vorndam
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3156.1998.00320.x
Subject(s) - dengue fever , dengue virus , serotype , latin americans , public health , yellow fever , medicine , virology , geography , demography , virus , political science , nursing , sociology , law
Summarybackground During the past decade, dengue and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) have become a public health problem in various Latin American countries. Indications of increased dengue cases in the city of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, early in 1997 were promptly investigated. methods We conducted a sample sero‐survey in one district of the city. Levels of antidengue IgM were determined and genetic analysis was performed on virus isolates. results IgM antibodies were detected in 6.5% (95% CI: 3.4%– 9.6%) of adults (over 15 years old) and 5.1% (2.0%– 8.2%) of children (5–7 years old). Dengue virus serotype 2 subtype III (‘Jamaica’) was isolated. conclusions The estimated attack rates are compatible with a dengue epidemic in Santa Cruz. Isolation of dengue‐2 ‘Jamaica’ virus documents the further spread of this subtype from the Caribbean via Brazil into South America. Increased DHF preparedness seems mandatory.