Severe dengue epidemics in Sri Lanka, 2003-2006.
Recent emergence of dengue hemorrhagic fever in the Indian subcontinent has been well documented in Sri Lanka. We compare recent (2003-2006) and past (1980-1997) dengue surveillance data for Sri Lanka. The 4 dengue virus (DENV) serotypes have been cocirculating in Sri Lanka for >30 years. Over this period, a new genotype of DENV-1 has replaced an old genotype. Moreover, new clades of DENV-3 genotype III viruses have replaced older clades. Emergence of new clades of DENV-3 in 1989 and 2000 coincided with abrupt increases in the number of reported dengue cases, implicating this serotype in severe epidemics. In 1980-1997, most reported dengue cases were in children. Recent epidemics have been characterized by many cases in children and adults. Changes in local transmission dynamics and genetic changes in DENV-3 are likely increasing emergence of severe dengue epidemics in Sri Lanka.
Kanakaratne
Nalaka
N
Genetech Research Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka. genetech@slt.lk
Wahala
Wahala M P B
WM
Messer
William B
WB
Tissera
Hasitha A
HA
Shahani
Aruna
A
Abeysinghe
Nihal
N
de-Silva
Aravinda M
AM
Gunasekera
Maya
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012703:Serotyping; D019595:Severe Dengue / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult