[Characterization of imported dengue fever cases in Germany - Results of a pilot project]

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral infectious disease with an estimated 100-400 million infections worldwide every year. The currently highest case numbers are also reflected in the specialized centers in Germany. A pilot project for the surveillance of highly infectious imported diseases at the tropical medicine centers in Berlin, Heidelberg and Augsburg used dengue fever to pilot joint data collection, transmission and analysis.

Patients with dengue fever were included in the survey. Demographic, anamnestic and clinical-laboratory data were recorded and then transferred to an online database (RedCap) accessible to all participating centers.

In the pilot phase (August to December 2023) 42 patients were included (median age: 35.5 years; travel duration: median 20 days). The countries of infection were South (East) Asia (64.3%), Central America (30.9%) and Africa (4.8%). The mostly classic symptoms (fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, exanthema) began during the trip in almost two thirds of cases. The diagnosis was based on the detection of the NS1 antigen in 71.4% and on serology in 28.6%. The piloted system proved to be practicable for detecting infectious threats in terms of pandemic preparedness.

The joint detection of an infectious disease was successfully piloted. Dengue fever presented itself in its classic form. Growing case numbers and the risk of autochthonous transmission are increasingly bringing dengue fever into the focus of differential diagnosis in Germany.