Uncovering the Burden of Dengue in Africa: Considerations on Magnitude, Misdiagnosis, and Ancestry

Dengue is a re-emerging neglected disease of major public health importance. This review highlights important considerations for dengue disease in Africa, including epidemiology and underestimation of disease burden in African countries, issues with malaria misdiagnosis and co-infections, and potent...

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Main Authors: Emily Mary Gainor, Eva Harris, A. Desiree LaBeaud
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-01-01
Series:Viruses
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/14/2/233
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author Emily Mary Gainor
Eva Harris
A. Desiree LaBeaud
author_facet Emily Mary Gainor
Eva Harris
A. Desiree LaBeaud
author_sort Emily Mary Gainor
collection DOAJ
description Dengue is a re-emerging neglected disease of major public health importance. This review highlights important considerations for dengue disease in Africa, including epidemiology and underestimation of disease burden in African countries, issues with malaria misdiagnosis and co-infections, and potential evidence of genetic protection from severe dengue disease in populations of African descent. The findings indicate that dengue virus prevalence in African countries and populations may be more widespread than reported data suggests, and that the <i>Aedes</i> mosquito vectors appear to be increasing in dissemination and number. Changes in climate, population, and plastic pollution are expected to worsen the dengue situation in Africa. Dengue misdiagnosis is also a problem in Africa, especially due to the typical non-specific clinical presentation of dengue leading to misdiagnosis as malaria. Finally, research suggests that a protective genetic component against severe dengue exists in African descent populations, but further studies should be conducted to strengthen this association in various populations, taking into consideration socioeconomic factors that may contribute to these findings. The main takeaway is that Africa should not be overlooked when it comes to dengue, and more attention and resources should be devoted to this disease in Africa.
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spelling doaj.art-f5ddd5f5291a4da8ad3e0c13edc708d22023-11-23T22:29:38ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152022-01-0114223310.3390/v14020233Uncovering the Burden of Dengue in Africa: Considerations on Magnitude, Misdiagnosis, and AncestryEmily Mary Gainor0Eva Harris1A. Desiree LaBeaud2Division of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3370, USADivision of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3370, USADepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USADengue is a re-emerging neglected disease of major public health importance. This review highlights important considerations for dengue disease in Africa, including epidemiology and underestimation of disease burden in African countries, issues with malaria misdiagnosis and co-infections, and potential evidence of genetic protection from severe dengue disease in populations of African descent. The findings indicate that dengue virus prevalence in African countries and populations may be more widespread than reported data suggests, and that the <i>Aedes</i> mosquito vectors appear to be increasing in dissemination and number. Changes in climate, population, and plastic pollution are expected to worsen the dengue situation in Africa. Dengue misdiagnosis is also a problem in Africa, especially due to the typical non-specific clinical presentation of dengue leading to misdiagnosis as malaria. Finally, research suggests that a protective genetic component against severe dengue exists in African descent populations, but further studies should be conducted to strengthen this association in various populations, taking into consideration socioeconomic factors that may contribute to these findings. The main takeaway is that Africa should not be overlooked when it comes to dengue, and more attention and resources should be devoted to this disease in Africa.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/14/2/233dengueAfrica<i>Aedes</i>epidemiologyclimate changeoutbreaks
spellingShingle Emily Mary Gainor
Eva Harris
A. Desiree LaBeaud
Uncovering the Burden of Dengue in Africa: Considerations on Magnitude, Misdiagnosis, and Ancestry
Viruses
dengue
Africa
<i>Aedes</i>
epidemiology
climate change
outbreaks
title Uncovering the Burden of Dengue in Africa: Considerations on Magnitude, Misdiagnosis, and Ancestry
title_full Uncovering the Burden of Dengue in Africa: Considerations on Magnitude, Misdiagnosis, and Ancestry
title_fullStr Uncovering the Burden of Dengue in Africa: Considerations on Magnitude, Misdiagnosis, and Ancestry
title_full_unstemmed Uncovering the Burden of Dengue in Africa: Considerations on Magnitude, Misdiagnosis, and Ancestry
title_short Uncovering the Burden of Dengue in Africa: Considerations on Magnitude, Misdiagnosis, and Ancestry
title_sort uncovering the burden of dengue in africa considerations on magnitude misdiagnosis and ancestry
topic dengue
Africa
<i>Aedes</i>
epidemiology
climate change
outbreaks
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/14/2/233
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AT adesireelabeaud uncoveringtheburdenofdengueinafricaconsiderationsonmagnitudemisdiagnosisandancestry