Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Dengue fever (DF) is globally emerging mosquito born viral disease. In Ethiopia, DF is newly emerged since 2013. The existing outbreak data was not compiled which is important for the provision of epidemiological information as a base for the health care systems, and to make possible preventive and curative measures for the coming dengue fever outbreak. We conducted retrospective descriptive study on three years outbreak of DF during 2014, 2015, and 2016. We collected line lists of outbreak over past three years on main epidemiological parameter. We entered, cleaned, and analyzed collected data by using Microsoft Excel 2007. Four hundred forty suspected Dengue cases reported from 1/21/2014 to 3/3/2016 with no deaths. Male constitute majority 58% of cases. Age of patients ranged from 2 months to 82 years with median age of 26 years. Age group ranging from 15 to 45 constitute majority 305(69.3%) of the cases, followed by >45(12.5%). About 18.2% of cases were those 15 constitute 81.8% of cases. High percentages (37%) of cases reported in February. During 2014 and 2016, outbreak happened in the same months (Jan, Feb, and March). High percentages of cases (43.2 %) reported in 2015. Majority 368(83.6%) of cases reported from Godey Council. In 2014 and 2015 outbreak confined to Godey council only, while in 2016 dengue reported from Dollo Ado town. About 98.6% of cases reported from urban. Two hundred ninety two (66%) of cases were managed at outpatient department (OPD). From all collected 57 blood samples, 33(57.9%) was positive for dengue virus by RT-PCR technique. Dengue fever is a serious public health problem and is newly emerging threat in affected town of Ethiopian Somali region. Our study highlights as dengue appearing cyclic every year mainly affecting adult population of reproductive age group. It also shows the sign of expanding to other town of region, there is an urgent need to enhance dengue surveillance, and control, especially for the high-risk populations in high-risk areas in dengue affected areas of the region.
Mohammed et al. (Wed,) studied this question.