Dengue Outbreak Research Articles

Geographic information system-aided evaluation of epidemiological trends of dengue serotypes in West Bengal, India.

West Bengal is a dengue-endemic State in India, with all four dengue serotypes in co-circulation. The present study was conceived to determine the changing trends of circulating dengue virus (DENV) serotypes in five consecutive years (2015-2019) using a geographic information system (GIS) during the dengue season in West Bengal, India. Molecular serotyping of dengue NS1 sero-reactive serum samples from individuals with ≤5 days of fever was performed using conventional nested reverse transcriptase-PCR. GIS techniques such as Getis-Ord Gi* hotspot analysis and heatmap were used to elucidate dengue transmission based on the received NS1-positive cases and vector data analysis was used to point out risk-prone areas. A total of 3915 dengue NS1 sero-positive samples were processed from most parts of West Bengal and among these, 3249 showed RNA positivity. The major circulating serotypes were DENV 3 (63.54%) in 2015, DENV 1 (52.79%) in 2016 and DENV 2 (73.47, 76.04 and 47.15%) in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. Based on the NS1 positivity, dengue infections were higher in males than females and young adults of 21-30 yr were mostly infected. Getis-Ord Gi* hotspot cluster analysis and heatmap indicate that Kolkata has become a hotspot for dengue outbreaks and serotype plotting on maps confirms a changing trend of predominant serotypes during 2015-2019 in West Bengal. Co-circulation of all the four dengue serotypes was observed in this study, but only one serotype became prevalent during an outbreak. Representation of NS1-positive cases and serotype distribution in GIS mapping clearly showed serotypic shift in co-circulation. The findings of this study suggest the need for stringent surveillance in dengue-endemic areas to limit the impact of dengue and implement better vector-control strategies.

Dengue outbreak amidst poverty and floods in Pakistan: the herbal medicine conundrum

Dengue outbreak amidst poverty and floods in Pakistan: the herbal medicine conundrum

Entomological Investigation of Dengue Outbreak in Dhanpur Village, Sepahijala District, Tripura State, India

Entomological Investigation of Dengue Outbreak in Dhanpur Village, Sepahijala District, Tripura State, India

Combatting Malaysia's Dengue Outbreaks with Auto-Dissemination Mosquito Traps: A Hybrid Stochastic-Deterministic SIR Model

Classical mosquito control methods (e.g. chemical fogging) struggle to sustain long-term reductions in mosquito populations to combat vector-borne diseases like dengue. The Mosquito Home System (MHS) is an auto-dissemination mosquito trap, that kills mosquito larvae before they hatch into adult mosquitoes. A novel hybrid stochastic-deterministic model is presented, that successfully predicts the effect of deploying MHSs within high-rise flats in Selangor, Malaysia. Stochastic SIR (Susceptible-Infected-Recovered) equations (flats) are paired with an existing deterministic SIR model (wider Kuala Lumpur population). Model predictions provide excellent agreement with data from a 44 week MHS trial within the flats. The stochastic model is validated as a powerful tool for predicting short- and long-term impacts of deploying this style of trap within similar environments. Significant, sustainable reductions in mosquito populations are predicted when the MHS is active: with a mean of 9 (95% Uncertainty Range (UR): 1; 30) during the 44 week trial period, compared to 35 (95% UR: 1; 234) dengue cases with no MHSs. Long-term predictions for endemic equilibrium show MHSs significantly narrow the mosquito population distribution and reduce dengue prevalence: from a mean of 5 (95% UR: 0; 52) (no MHS), to 1 (95% UR: 0; 8) dengue cases annually (with MHS).

Anti-Dengue: A Machine Learning-Assisted Prediction of Small Molecule Antivirals against Dengue Virus and Implications in Drug Repurposing.

Dengue outbreaks persist in global tropical regions, lacking approved antivirals, necessitating critical therapeutic development against the virus. In this context, we developed the "Anti-Dengue" algorithm that predicts dengue virus inhibitors using a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) and MLTs. Using the "DrugRepV" database, we extracted chemicals (small molecules) and repurposed drugs targeting the dengue virus with their corresponding IC50 values. Then, molecular descriptors and fingerprints were computed for these molecules using PaDEL software. Further, these molecules were split into training/testing and independent validation datasets. We developed regression-based predictive models employing 10-fold cross-validation using a variety of machine learning approaches, including SVM, ANN, kNN, and RF. The best predictive model yielded a PCC of 0.71 on the training/testing dataset and 0.81 on the independent validation dataset. The created model's reliability and robustness were assessed using William's plot, scatter plot, decoy set, and chemical clustering analyses. Predictive models were utilized to identify possible drug candidates that could be repurposed. We identified goserelin, gonadorelin, and nafarelin as potential repurposed drugs with high pIC50 values. "Anti-Dengue" may be beneficial in accelerating antiviral drug development against the dengue virus.

Arbovirus Detection of Adult Female <i>Aedes aegypti</i> for Dengue Surveillance: a Cohort Study in Bandung City, Indonesia

Dengue surveillance is an important activity to prevent dengue outbreaks. This activity becomes a significant challenge for the region with limited logistic capabilities. Developing a simple mathematical model to predict the possibility of dengue incidence provides a reliable early warning system. This study compared the correlation between vector (adult female Aedes aegypti) and arbovirus detection on a vector to dengue incidence, which generalized linear mixed models tested. The incidence of adult female Aedes aegypti and dengue fever cases were interpolated through third-power inverse distance weighting (IDW). A spatial correlation between female Aedes aegypti incidence and dengue incidence was obtained from polynomial regression. Collection sites were 16 villages in Bandung city, one of the significant dengue endemic areas in January–December 2017. A total of 8,402 mosquitoes of Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, and Culex sp., with 17% belonging to Aedes aegypti as the subject of the dengue virus (DENV) infection test. Data analysis only showed a weak correlation between the numbers of adult female Aedes aegypti and dengue incidence. On the other hand, there is no correlation between positive dengue infection of vector and dengue incidence. This study highlights the importance of constant arbovirus surveillance and integrated surveillance methods on all possible dengue vectors to develop an early warning system for dengue incidence.

Flood and Dengue: Increased risk of Gestational Pestilences.

Madam Editor, Dengue fever is an acute viral disease caused by an RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Symptoms can range from asymptomatic fever to life-threatening complications such as haemorrhagic fever and shock (1). Dengue fever is recognized by the (WHO (World Health Organization)) World Health Organization as a serious global public health threat in tropical and subtropical countries. Dengue-endemic regions are home to 2.5 billion people, and 400 million infections occur each year, with mortality rates exceeding 20% in some areas (2). Extremely heavy rains have lately devastated Pakistan, with its most populous metropolis of Karachi witnessing the worst floods in a century. Flooding and inadequate water sanitation have increased the risk of dengue, malaria, and other water-borne disease outbreaks. Determining whether dengue infection during pregnancy is associated with adverse effects on the fetus is important, given that women of reproductive age in dengue-endemic areas are at risk of contracting the disease. Studies have suggested an association between maternal infection during pregnancy and preterm birth, low birth weight, small gestational age births, stillbirth, and miscarriage (3, 4). According to Pouliot SH, et al., high rates of cesarean deliveries (44%) and pre-eclampsia (12%) occurred in women who had dengue infection during pregnancy (5). Even though there are several variants of dengue infection, the study found that the proportion of DENV-4 in pregnant women was higher than in non-pregnant women (6), the reason for which is still unclear. The gestational period involves various anatomical and physiological changes in the female body, such as increased capillary permeability, hemodilution, leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, etc., which may complicate the assessment of the clinical manifestation of dengue due to opposing effects on the body, such as the contradicting leucocyte concentration, as pregnancy causes leukocytosis, whereas dengue causes leukopenia (6). Though the exact mechanism of the effect of maternal dengue on the fetus is yet to be determined, recent studies have put forward two mechanisms for fetal and neonatal morbidity caused by maternal dengue infection. The first theory is that dengue infection causes hemodynamic changes during pregnancy that could affect the placenta and cause fetal hypoxia, In contrast, the second theory states that dengue infection affects the fetus directly (7). ---Continue

Information seeking behavior of university students during 2023 dengue outbreak

Background of the study: Dengue outbreak has become a regular phenomenon Bangladesh. It has created a panic among people from all walks of life. Purpose: The study was conducted to gain insights about the dengue related information seeking behavior of university students of Bangladesh during 2023 dengue outbreak. Method: In this study, a survey was conducted with an online questionnaire here. 532 students from different universities of Bangladesh have participated Mann Whitney and Kruskal Wallis test was applied to determine the relationships between different demographic variables and the choice of information sources, purpose of seeking information. Findings: In this study majority of students Majority of the students use social media platforms as their primary source of information regarding dengue virus. Most of the students seek information to mainly know about the disease and the safety products related to the virus. There was a significant difference between the residence of the respondents and their choice of information sources. The respondents also have identified several barriers to dengue related information. They mostly regarded the lack of medical terminologies and lack of necessary steps by the educational institutions as the primary barriers. Conclusion: Dengue outbreak has become regular phenomenon in Bangladesh. It imperative for studen5tts to seek necessary information regarding the dengue virus. The authorities must take care of the preference of the students regarding the choice information source while giving them proper information.

Gastrointestinal Manifestations of Dengue Fever among Children: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study in Bangladesh

Background: Dengue fever is an arboviral illness spread by mosquitoes and is now a major public health issue on a global scale. Unfortunately, only few studies have documented unusual clinical characteristics of dengue among children. Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the gastro intestinal manifestations of dengue infected children during 2019 dengue outbreak in Dhaka city. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Department of Virology at National Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Referral Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh among confirmed cases of dengue fever (Children aged less than 12 years) admitted in the pediatric ward of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Kurmitola General Hospital, Sir Sallimullah Medical College Hospital, Dr M R Khan Sishu Hospital and BSMMU in Dhaka from June 2019 to November 2019 for period of six months. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire via face-to-face interview from guardian of the children. The investigation profile was collected from their hospital records. Results: Out of confirmed 200 pediatric dengue patients, children with dengue had an average age of 9.8±2.7 years with a slight female predominance. The majority (36.5%) of the children belonged to the age group of 5 to 9 years. Among 200 patients, 42 patients diagnosed as severe Dengue according to WHO classification. Gastrointestinal symptoms were the most common associated feature, including mostly Nausea/vomiting (81.0%), abdominal pain (61.0%), ascites (29.0%), hepatomegaly (19.0%), diarrhoea (13.0%) and others. Elevation of transaminases was found in 40.0% of the children. About 30% of the patients had platelet count more than or equal to 50000 and hematocrit more than 40 was observed in 12% patients. Atypical manifestations such as acalculous cholecystitis, acute fulminant hepatitis, acute pancreatitis, parotitis, AKI and paralytic ileus were noted in small number of patients. Conclusion: In conclusion, fever with vomiting and abdominal pain are common presentations of dengue fever. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Microbiology, July 2023;17(2):66-70

Public knowledge, belief, and preventive practices regarding dengue: Findings from a community-based survey in rural Bangladesh.

Dengue fever, the most prevalent mosquito-borne viral infection, is a recurrent public health threat in Bangladesh. Despite the government's efforts, dengue outbreaks are on the upswing, and people's knowledge, belief, and preventive practices regarding the disease at the rural community level are unclear. The objective of this study was to assess the level of knowledge, belief and preventive practices regarding dengue and associated factors among community people from rural Bangladesh. A cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 401 people using a convenient sampling technique from three unions of Savar from August to September 2021. Participants' responses were collected through face-to-face interviews using a pre-tested structured questionnaire that included information related to socio-demographics, dengue-related knowledge, preventive practices, and the health belief model (HBM) constructs. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with the knowledge and preventive practices of dengue. Overall, participants (mean age = 33.47 ± 12.96 years; age range = 18-75 years) correctly answered 66.15% of the knowledge questions regarding dengue. Higher education, travel to dengue-risk regions, and self-efficacy under the HBM construct were all shown to be strongly associated with dengue knowledge. Regarding HBM constructs, about 80% of the participants perceived dengue as dangerous, but less than half (41.4%) believed themselves susceptible to dengue. Considering perceived barriers, 73.07% of the participants believed their residential area was not suitable for Aedes mosquito breeding. Nearly all (93.52%) believed they always kept their surrounding area clean as part of self-efficacy. Moreover, on average participants engaged in 53.69% of all dengue preventive practices. Being older, female, having a higher education, being a service holder, having a good quality of house structure, and perceived susceptibility as well as self-efficacy under the HBM construct were all factors in participants' dengue prevention activities. Participants' dengue preventative practices were shown to be significantly influenced by their knowledge. The findings of this study found a moderate level of knowledge regarding dengue among the participants. Regarding dengue prevention, although participants scored highly in several indicators, the overall preventive practices were not satisfactory. This suggests that there is a pressing need for expanded education outreach aimed at increasing public awareness of dengue and encourage preventive practices within rural communities in Bangladesh.

Autochthonous Dengue Outbreak, Paris Region, France, September-October 2023.

We describe clinical and laboratory findings of 3 autochthonous cases of dengue in the Paris Region, France, during September-October 2023. Increasing trends in cases, global warming, and growth of international travel mean that such infections likely will increase during warm seasons in France, requiring stronger arbovirus surveillance networks.

Temephos resistance levels in populations of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) from Havana, Cuba

Aedes aegypti chemical control remains an indispensable alternative to prevent dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya outbreaks. Havana City requires constant surveillance due to its bioecological characteristics favor the proliferation of mosquito vectors of these diseases, which constitutes a high risk to the health of its inhabitants. The goal of this study was to determine temephos resistance levels in the populations of Ae. aegypti from five municipalities of Havana. The susceptibility of the larvae was evaluated by bioassays described by the World Health Organization. Aedes aegypti populations evaluated showed high resistance to temephos, with values that oscillated for the FR50 between 26,8 and 82,5 and for the FR90 between 16,6 and 42,5 respectively. The National Control Program of Aedes aegypti in Cuba must promote insecticide rotation policies to avoid or prevent the evolution of temephos resistance in Havana. In addition, an evaluation of the Abate doses applied by the operators in the municipalities studied must be carried out, since this could be influencing resistance development due to operational factors.

Demographic Profile of Patients with Dengue Fever Presented in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Bangladesh

Background: Dengue is an important tropical infection caused by an arbovirus having four serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, DENV-4) transmitted through the bite of infected female Aedes mosquito. Dengue is a challenging disease with multisystemic, varied, atypical, and sometimes life-threatening presentations. It presents as varied clinical spectrum of dengue fever (DF), dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), dengue shock syndrome (DSS) and expanded dengue syndrome (EDS) with atypical presentations, thus posing a diagnostic dilemma. Each year, thousands of dengue infections are reported and there are several outbreaks of dengue in several countries including Bangladesh and this imply the global importance of this infection. The objectives of this study was to determine the sociodemographic variables of patient suffering from DF during an epidemic outbreak. Methods: This hospital review analyzed the hospital records of DF cases of BIRDEM General Hospital, Dhaka from June 2019 to December 2019. Patients with suspected dengue fever attending at the outdoor/emergency or admitted indoor were taken as study subjects. Data were collected from hospital records. Study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board. All the relevant data regarding history and examination findings of the patients, the laboratory reports were collected. Statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 22, was used for data entry and statistical analysis. Results: Total 292 dengue patients were enrolled in this study. Mean age of all patient was 35.63±15.22 years (11-85 year) with male predominance (54.8%). Maximum patients were from urban residence (83.9%), non-smoker (73.6%), had active lifestyle (63.4%) and normal body mass index (68.5%). Overall, 65.1% patients had no comorbidity and 89.4% had no concurrent acute illness. Conclusion: Although the results of this study cannot be generalized to other cities of Bangladesh, our findings will allow public health agencies in Bangladesh to concentrate their efforts to battle against dengue. J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2023; 41: 63-68

Serotype Variations and Distributions of Dengue Virus During the 2022 Outbreak in Chattogram, Bangladesh

Introduction: In the year 2022, a Dengue virus outbreak occurred nationwide in Bangladesh, including Chattogram, a port city. The purpose of this study was to identify and document the serotypes of Dengue virus and to measure the viral load of the virus positive specimens. Methods: This observational study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital of Chattogram during a period of six months from June through December, 2022. A total of 74 patients with symptoms suggestive of Dengue Fever(DF) and NS1 or IgM/IgG positive dengue patients were recruited into the study. From them clinicopathological data was collected on a case record form(CRF). Ten ml of venous whole blood was drawn in EDTA tubes then centrifuged and was sent to the laboratory at SlieaGen L.L.C in Austin, Texas, USA, for Dengue serotyping and viral load analysis by qPCR-LDT method. A total of 73 specimens were analyzed, one specimen was excluded. Ethical clearance was obtained from the hospital ethical review board, written informed consents were also taken from all subjects. Serotyping and qPCR testing data was shared by SlieaGen LLC once analysis was completed. Results: Amongst the 74 patients most were male 57(77%) and most [20(40.5%)] patients were young at 21-30 years. All had history of fever(100%), followed by body aches 67(90.5%), headache 49(66.2%) and weakness 55(74.3%). Positive NS1, IgM Dengue Ab and IgG Dengue Ab were found in 68(91.9%), 8(10.8%) and 3(4.1%) cases respectively. Frequency of serotype distributions revealed DENV 1 and DENV 3 were the most common serotypes 25(33.8%) and 16(21.6%) respectively also DENV 2 was 3(4.1%) and DENV 4 was 1(1.4%). Among 27 virus positive cases single infection DENV 1 was found in 10(13.51%) samples, DENV 3 and DENV 4 found in 1(1.4%) samples each, doubly infected (DENV 1 + DENV 2) was found in 12(16.2%) samples, triple infected (DENV 1 + DENV 2 + DENV 3) was found in 3(4.1%) samples. No virus was detected in 46(62.16%) samples. Viral load (Mean ± SD ) found in DENV 1(890974.48 ± 4156206)cp/ml, DENV 2 (33423.00 ± 9088.35)cp/ml, DENV 3(23991.12 ± 51250.18)cp/ml and DENV 4 (822.00cp/ml) in virus detected samples Conclusions: All four serotypes were found in the 2022 Dengue outbreak in Chittagong and DENV 1 and DENV 3 were common serotype. Simultaneous double and triple serotype infection in the same patients may be related with different unusual clinical features which need further documentations in future. J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2023; 41: 39-43

Predictors of Acute Kidney Injury in Hospitalized Dengue Patients: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Dengue is an endemic RNA viral infection in Bangladesh. It can affect different organ systems, acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of them. The study aimed to detect the prevalence and predictors of dengue-associated acute kidney injury (DAKI) and in-hospital outcome. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out from July to September 2023 at the peak of dengue outbreak in the Department of Medicine in Shaheed Monsur Ali Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. A total of 203 confirmed cases of dengue aged > 12 years were finally included in the study. Results: The prevalence of DAKI was 7.9%. The mean age of DAKI cases was higher than the non-AKI cases (p-value 0.008). AKI was significantly associated with DHF (43.8% vs 17.6%), higher HCT, higher neutrophil count and lower lymphocytes. In multivariate analyses age more than 60 years, dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) and multiple organ dysfunction (MODS) were the independent predictors of DAKI. AKI itself was the independent predictor of hospital stay for more than three days (OR 4.67; 95% CI 1.29-16.92). There was no mortality in the study participants. All were discharged home with resolved AKI. Conclusion: Age more than 60 years, DHF and MODS are the independent risk factors of DAKI. Future studies are required to find out the risk factors for early diagnosis and prompt management. J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2023; 41: 29-33

The Alarming Resurgence of Dengue Fever with Unusual Clinical Manifestations and Deadly Consequences of 2023 Outbreak in Bangladesh

Background: Dengue fever has become a significant concern in Bangladesh in recent years. The country is currently experiencing the most significant and deadliest outbreak in 2023. In this article, we will delve into the current dengue situation in Bangladesh, analyzing its clinical profile and grave consequences. Materials and methods: This multicentric cross-sectional study analyzed 499 confirmed dengue patients admitted between May 1, 2023, and September 30, 2023, in the Department of Medicine, Popular Medical College and Hospital, and Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital, Dhaka. Patients were categorized into dengue Groups A, B, and C. We tabulated and expressed categorical variables (gender, clinical manifestations, comorbidity, radiological and laboratory findings) as frequencies and percentages and explored relationships between demographics, clinical manifestations, and severity. The chisquare test compared proportions, with p d” 0.05 considered significant. Duration of illness and hospital stay were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Among 499 patients, the 21-40 age group with a male predominance was most affected. Predominant symptoms were fever and gastrointestinal issues. Bleeding, myalgia, and rash were less common. Group C displayed a shift towards Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) rather than Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF), with 125 patients experiencing shock. Group B exhibited significant ultrasonographic findings, such as ascites, hepatomegaly, and splenomegaly, while Group C had more pronounced radiological findings of pleural effusion and pneumonia, predominantly unilateral right-sided pleural effusion. In both Groups B and C, liver transaminases, serum ferritin, and serum lipase were consistently elevated. Tragically, 9 (1.80%) patients, all in Group C, did not survive. Conclusions: In summary, our study on the current dengue outbreak in Bangladesh indicates a worrying shift to severe Dengue Shock Syndrome, more prevalent than hemorrhagic fever. Prominent gastrointestinal symptoms, less bleeding, and higher mortality in Group C emphasize the crisis. J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2023; 41: 12-20

Effects of human mobility on the spread of Dengue in the region of Caldas, Colombia.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dengue is the most common acute arthropod-borne viral infection in the world. The spread of dengue and other infectious diseases is closely related to human activity and mobility. In this paper we analyze the effect of introducing mobility restrictions as a public health policy on the total number of dengue cases within a population. To perform the analysis, we use a complex metapopulation in which we implement a compartmental propagation model coupled with the mobility of individuals between the patches. This model is used to investigate the spread of dengue in the municipalities of Caldas (CO). Two scenarios corresponding to different types of mobility restrictions are applied. In the first scenario, the effect of restricting mobility is analyzed in three different ways: a) limiting the access to the endemic node but allowing the movement of its inhabitants, b) restricting the diaspora of the inhabitants of the endemic node but allowing the access of outsiders, and c) a total isolation of the inhabitants of the endemic node. In this scenario, the best simulation results are obtained when specific endemic nodes are isolated during a dengue outbreak, obtaining a reduction of up to 2.5% of dengue cases. Finally, the second scenario simulates a total isolation of the network, i.e., mobility between nodes is completely limited. We have found that this control measure increases the number of total dengue cases in the network by 2.36%.

Alarming Trends in Dengue Incidence and Mortality in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is currently experiencing the country's largest and deadliest dengue outbreak on record. This year's outbreak has been characterized by an early seasonal surge in cases, rapid geographic spread, and a high fatality rate. The alarming trends in dengue incidence and mortality this year is an urgent wake-up call for public health policymakers and researchers to pay closer attention to dengue dynamics in South Asia, to strengthen the surveillance system and diagnostic capabilities, and to develop tools and methods for guiding strategic resource allocation and control efforts.

Viral RNA in Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) Collected between 2019 and 2021 in Germany.

Due to globalisation and climate change, mosquito-borne pathogens are emerging in new areas on all continents, including Europe, which has recently faced outbreaks of dengue, chikungunya and West Nile fever. The present study complements previous investigations to evaluate the circulation of mosquito-borne viruses in Germany, with the aim of identifying potential vector species and risk areas. Mosquitoes collected from 2019 to 2021 and identified to species or species group level were screened for viruses of the families Flaviviridae, Peribunyaviridae and the genus Alphavirus of the family Togaviridae. In total, 22,528 mosquitoes were examined, thus providing the most comprehensive study on West Nile virus (WNV) circulation so far in the German mosquito population. Usutu virus (USUV) RNA was detected in six samples, Sindbis virus (SINV) RNA in 21 samples and WNV RNA in 11 samples. Samples containing RNA of USUV and WNV consisted of mosquitoes collected in the East German federal states of Brandenburg, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, while samples with RNA of SINV originated from more widespread locations. Although minimum infection rates have remained relatively low, the intensity of virus circulation appears to be increasing compared to previous studies. Continuous mosquito screening contributes to the early detection of the introduction and spread of mosquito-borne pathogens.

Arthropod-Borne Viruses in Mauritania: A Literature Review.

During the past four decades, recurrent outbreaks of various arthropod-borne viruses have been reported in Mauritania. This review aims to consolidate the current knowledge on the epidemiology of the major arboviruses circulating in Mauritania. Online databases including PubMed and Web of Science were used to retrieve relevant published studies. The results showed that numerous arboviral outbreaks of variable magnitude occurred in almost all 13 regions of Mauritania, with Rift Valley fever (RVF), Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), and dengue (DEN) being the most common infections. Other arboviruses causing yellow fever (YF), chikungunya (CHIK), o'nyong-nyong (ONN), Semliki Forest (SF), West Nile fever (WNF), Bagaza (BAG), Wesselsbron (WSL), and Ngari (NRI) diseases have also been found circulating in humans and/or livestock in Mauritania. The average case fatality rates of CCHF and RVF were 28.7% and 21.1%, respectively. RVF outbreaks have often occurred after unusually heavy rainfalls, while CCHF epidemics have mostly been reported during the dry season. The central and southeastern regions of the country have carried the highest burden of RVF and CCHF. Sheep, cattle, and camels are the main animal reservoirs for the RVF and CCHF viruses. Culex antennatus and Cx. poicilipes mosquitoes and Hyalomma dromedarii, H. rufipes, and Rhipicephalus everesti ticks are the main vectors of these viruses. DEN outbreaks occurred mainly in the urban settings, including in Nouakchott, the capital city, and Aedes aegypti is likely the main mosquito vector. Therefore, there is a need to implement an integrated management strategy for the prevention and control of arboviral diseases based on sensitizing the high-risk occupational groups, such as slaughterhouse workers, shepherds, and butchers for zoonotic diseases, reinforcing vector surveillance and control, introducing rapid point-of-care diagnosis of arboviruses in high-risk areas, and improving the capacities to respond rapidly when the first signs of disease outbreak are identified.