AN OUTBREAK OF TYPE-2 DENGUE FEVER IN THE SEYCHELLES, PROBABLY TRANSMITTED BY AEDES-ALBOPICTUS (SKUSE)

Abstract

Between Dec. 1976 and Sept. 1977 the Seychelles group of islands in the Indian Ocean was struck by an extensive epidemic of dengue fever. The peak of the epidemic was in the last wk of Feb. Type 2 dengue virus was isolated from patients and mosquitos. A. albopictus was the sole vector. The clinical picture was that of classical dengue. Hemorrhagic fever and the shock syndrome were not observed. Absenteeism from schools and offices, anamnestic questioning and prevalence of antibodies in sera collected after the epidemic was over, indicated that approximately 75% of the population was infected. Serological evidence was obtained of an epidemic of dengue in the islands more than 40 yr earlier. This was confirmed by archival records.