Dengue fever risk and prevention for short-term group travelers to tropical regions

The purpose of this study is to describe dengue fever infections in a group traveling from northern Louisiana to Mexico. Of 50 travelers in the group, three adolescents aged 15-16 developed febrile symptoms a few days after returning. Clinical diagnosis suggested dengue fever. Serum samples were obtained from the three adolescents and from 19 of the adults (age 18 and older) who were in the group. The samples were analyzed by the Centers for Disease Control using dengue IgM capture enzyme linked immunosorbant assay. Results confirmed the three symptomatic adolescents and five asymptomatic adults had been infected with the Flaviviridae virus that causes dengue. We conclude that since there is no vaccine to prevent dengue infections, travelers to high-risk areas should take steps to prevent infection and that clinicians encountering patients with febrile illnesses after travel to such regions should consider a diagnosis of dengue fever.