Journal of Applied Health Sciences and Medicine

Review article

Dengue Virus in Africa; What to Know About the Virus?

  • By Pius Omoruyi Omosigho, Okesanya Olalekan John, Olaleke Noah Olabode, Enwose Ezekiel Onyemaechi, Amandeep Singh - 20 Mar 2023
  • Journal of Applied Health Sciences and Medicine, Volume: 3, Issue: 3, Pages: 23 - 29
  • https://doi.org/10.58614/jahsm332
  • Received: March 7, 2023; Accepted: March 18, 2023; Published: March 20, 2023

Abstract

Dengue virus (DENV) is an RNA virus of the family Flaviviridae and genus Flavivirus with 4 serotypes capable of causing disease in humans. DENV is prevalent both in tropical and subtropical regions with a high possibility of spreading to close regions. The infection is transmitted to humans by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in urban areas during epidemics in Africa. Outbreaks of DENV 1-3 serotypes have been frequently reported over the course of the years in many Africa countries. Endemicity within the community is by vertical transmission from an infected female Aedes mosquito to her offspring. Diagnostic capacities are limited in the form of rapid test, point of care testing, and ELISA assay locally while PCR, plague reduction neutralization and micro-neutralization assays are some complicated methods. A multifaceted and integrated strategy is expedient to battle dengue fever outbreak in Africa, including highly enhanced diagnostics, improved surveillance and reporting, prognostic modeling, entomological surveys, vector control interventions, and education and public awareness campaigns. As we can’t estimate the exact amount of the virus we have in Africa, we advocate for key action points highlighted by the Accra Expert Conference to be established in all Africa countries in the fight against DENV.

Keywords: Dengue virus, Dengue fever, DENV, Serotypes, Africa