Nosocomial Transmission of Dengue

Nosocomial Transmission of DengueTo the Editor: Four viruses form the dengue complex of mosquitoborne viruses (family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus).Any of these viruses can cause dengue fever, an uncomplicated febrile illness with rash; however, these viruses are not transmitted person to person.The principal mosquito vector of these viruses is Aedes aegypti.These viruses are not known to exist in Europe; therefore, dengue virus infections in Europe are seen in patients returning from dengueendemic areas (1).Nosocomial transmissions of dengue viruses by needlestick have been reported in three instances (2-4) and by bone marrow transplant in one instance (5).We describe the first case of nosocomial dengue fever diagnosed and treated in Hungary.On September 6, 2003, a 46-yearold physician sought care from the Department of Infectology, ("Baranya County Hospital" Pécs, Hungary); he reported a 4-day history of fever, headache, malaise, maculopapular rash, and pharyngitis.He had recently returned from a trip to Thailand and recalled having been bitten by a mosquito at Bangkok airport 11 days earlier.The patient had no history of ill-