[Dengue fever: an emerging infectious disease]

Dengue fever: an emerging infectious disease. Dengue fever is caused by an arbovirus of the family Flaviviridae and the genus Flavivirus, of which there are 4 serotypes (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, DEN-4). It is transmitted by the bite of a diurnal mosquito of the genus Aedes, mainly A. aegypti and A. albopictus. An increasing cause of acute fever in travellers, it threatens to emerge in temperate regions where competent mosquitoes (Aedes) are established. Dengue fever is characterized by its clinical polymorphism ranging from asymptomatic to severe forms, which are rare in travellers. Its definite diagnosis is based on virological tests selected according to the stage of the disease and the kinetics of the virus. Its treatment is only symptomatic. It is a notifiable disease in mainland France and is subject to a plan to combat its spread and to specific surveillance in the overseas departments. Dengue prevention is based on the application of personal anti-vectorial protection measures among travellers, awareness-raising among health professionals and social mobilization to combat larval gites in endemic regions or regions colonized by Aedes. In France, the tetravalent vaccine Dengvaxia, which is licensed in France, is not recommended for people residing in overseas departments and for travelers to endemic areas.