Dengue fever as an emerging disease in Afghanistan: Epidemiology of the first reported cases
Objective: This paper aims to describe the epidemiological characteristics and clinical manifestations of the first 15 dengue fever cases reported in Afghanistan. Methods: A retrospective descriptive analysis of the data on confirmed dengue cases detected by the national disease surveillance system...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2020-10-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Infectious Diseases |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971220305774 |
| _version_ | 1818392227275079680 |
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| author | Mohammad Nadir Sahak |
| author_facet | Mohammad Nadir Sahak |
| author_sort | Mohammad Nadir Sahak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: This paper aims to describe the epidemiological characteristics and clinical manifestations of the first 15 dengue fever cases reported in Afghanistan. Methods: A retrospective descriptive analysis of the data on confirmed dengue cases detected by the national disease surveillance system was conducted. Epidemiological, socio-demographic, clinical, laboratory and outcome data from the cases were analyzed. Results: Between May and December 2019, 62 samples were tested for DENV, among which 15 (24.2%) were positive. Seven of the cases were probable autochthonous with no travel history, the other seven cases had a travel history to dengue-endemic countries (five Pakistan, two India) and the travel history for one of the cases was not known. The 15 confirmed cases were reported from six provinces, seven cases (46.7%) were reported from Nangarhar Province, two (13%) from Paktya, and one (6.7%) from Paktika province, bordering with Pakistan, three (20%) were reported from Kabul, and one each (each 6.7%) from Faryab and Laghman provinces. All of the cases manifested fever, headache, myalgia, and arthralgia. Other clinical features were low platelet count (50%), pain behind eyes (36%), rash, and nausea/vomiting (each 21%). Conclusion: For the first time, the surveillance system detected and reported locally acquired DENV cases in Afghanistan, mostly in provinces bordering with Pakistan. Population movements between Afghanistan and Pakistan facilitate the cross-border spread of DENV between two countries. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T05:26:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0a066e121b564fd48acc49dd86cf2e9e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1201-9712 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T05:26:04Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-0a066e121b564fd48acc49dd86cf2e9e2022-12-21T23:15:32ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Infectious Diseases1201-97122020-10-01992327Dengue fever as an emerging disease in Afghanistan: Epidemiology of the first reported casesMohammad Nadir Sahak0World Health Organization (WHO), Kabul, AfghanistanObjective: This paper aims to describe the epidemiological characteristics and clinical manifestations of the first 15 dengue fever cases reported in Afghanistan. Methods: A retrospective descriptive analysis of the data on confirmed dengue cases detected by the national disease surveillance system was conducted. Epidemiological, socio-demographic, clinical, laboratory and outcome data from the cases were analyzed. Results: Between May and December 2019, 62 samples were tested for DENV, among which 15 (24.2%) were positive. Seven of the cases were probable autochthonous with no travel history, the other seven cases had a travel history to dengue-endemic countries (five Pakistan, two India) and the travel history for one of the cases was not known. The 15 confirmed cases were reported from six provinces, seven cases (46.7%) were reported from Nangarhar Province, two (13%) from Paktya, and one (6.7%) from Paktika province, bordering with Pakistan, three (20%) were reported from Kabul, and one each (each 6.7%) from Faryab and Laghman provinces. All of the cases manifested fever, headache, myalgia, and arthralgia. Other clinical features were low platelet count (50%), pain behind eyes (36%), rash, and nausea/vomiting (each 21%). Conclusion: For the first time, the surveillance system detected and reported locally acquired DENV cases in Afghanistan, mostly in provinces bordering with Pakistan. Population movements between Afghanistan and Pakistan facilitate the cross-border spread of DENV between two countries.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971220305774DengueDengue virus (DENV)SurveillanceDengue feverArboviral disease |
| spellingShingle | Mohammad Nadir Sahak Dengue fever as an emerging disease in Afghanistan: Epidemiology of the first reported cases International Journal of Infectious Diseases Dengue Dengue virus (DENV) Surveillance Dengue fever Arboviral disease |
| title | Dengue fever as an emerging disease in Afghanistan: Epidemiology of the first reported cases |
| title_full | Dengue fever as an emerging disease in Afghanistan: Epidemiology of the first reported cases |
| title_fullStr | Dengue fever as an emerging disease in Afghanistan: Epidemiology of the first reported cases |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dengue fever as an emerging disease in Afghanistan: Epidemiology of the first reported cases |
| title_short | Dengue fever as an emerging disease in Afghanistan: Epidemiology of the first reported cases |
| title_sort | dengue fever as an emerging disease in afghanistan epidemiology of the first reported cases |
| topic | Dengue Dengue virus (DENV) Surveillance Dengue fever Arboviral disease |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971220305774 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mohammadnadirsahak denguefeverasanemergingdiseaseinafghanistanepidemiologyofthefirstreportedcases |