A cluster of dengue cases in American missionaries returning from Haiti, 2010

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2012 Jan;86(1):16-22. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0427.

Abstract

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.

MeSH terms

  • Aedes
  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dengue / diagnosis
  • Dengue / epidemiology*
  • Dengue / prevention & control
  • Dengue / virology
  • Dengue Virus / classification
  • Dengue Virus / genetics
  • Dengue Virus / isolation & purification*
  • Earthquakes
  • Georgia
  • Haiti
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Missionaries
  • Nebraska
  • Religious Missions*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Risk Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Travel*