DENGUE FEVER IN TURKEY: CASES AND PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS

Area of Science:

• Medical Entomology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Dengue virus is a significant global public health concern, endemic in tropical and subtropical regions popular with tourists.
• International travel facilitates the spread of infectious diseases, including dengue fever, to non-endemic areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report and analyze travel-associated dengue fever cases diagnosed in Turkey between 2016 and 2017.
• To discuss the epidemiology of dengue fever in relation to travel and current global and national situations.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study evaluating six dengue fever cases.
• Diagnosis confirmed using serological and molecular methods at the National Virology Reference Laboratory.
• Data collected between January 2016 and February 2017.

Main Results:

• Six travel-associated dengue fever cases were identified, with patients traveling to Maldives, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Guiana.
• Common symptoms included fever, fatigue, myalgia, and arthralgia.
• Laboratory findings showed elevated liver enzymes (50%) and thrombocytopenia (66%).

Conclusions:

• Imported dengue fever cases are increasing due to global travel and commerce.
• Dengue fever should be considered in patients with a travel history presenting with fever, elevated liver enzymes, and thrombocytopenia.
• Consultation with travel medicine specialists is recommended before traveling to dengue-endemic regions.