Recent epidemiological trends of dengue in the French territories of the Americas (2000-2012): a systematic literature review.
Dengue is a public health concern across the globe, and an escalating problem in the Americas. As part of a wider programme (covering Latin America and South East Asia) to characterize the epidemiology of dengue in dengue endemic areas, we undertook a systematic literature review to assess epidemiological trends (incidence, timing and duration of outbreaks/epidemics, age and sex distribution, serotype distribution, seroprevalence and disease severity) for dengue across the French Territories of the Americas (FTA), in French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy between 2000 and 2012 (CRD42012002341: http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.asp?ID=CRD42012002341). Of 413 relevant data sources identified, 45 were eligible for inclusion. A large proportion of the available data were from national surveillance reports, and 12 publications were from peer-reviewed journals. During the review period, 3-5 epidemics were identified in each of the island territories and French Guiana, and epidemics were often associated with a shift in the predominant circulating dengue virus serotype. Substantial gaps in epidemiological knowledge were identified. In particular, information regarding dengue virus genotype distribution, seroprevalence and age distribution of dengue were lacking. Additionally, much of the available data were from epidemic years; data from inter-epidemic periods were sparse. Nevertheless, the available epidemiological data showed that dengue is endemic across the FTA and suggest an evolution towards hyperendemicity, highlighting the need to continue the efforts with the existing surveillance programmes to assist in planning an effective vaccination programme once a dengue vaccine is deployed.


BACKGROUND
PROSPERO CRD42012002341.
Global Epidemiology Department, Sanofi Pasteur, Lyon, France.
Maïna
M
L'Azou
Global Epidemiology Department, Sanofi Pasteur, Lyon, France.
Anne-Frieda
AF
Taurel
Institut Pasteur in French Guiana, Cayenne, French Guiana.
Claude
C
Flamand
Institut Pasteur in French Guiana, Cayenne, French Guiana.
Philippe
P
Quénel
D017677:Age Distribution; D003715:Dengue / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D058872:Epidemics; D005616:French Guiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D065288:Serogroup; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012744:Sex Ratio; D014900:West Indies / Q000453:epidemiology