Dengue virus infections among Haitian and expatriate non-governmental organization workers--Léogane and Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 2012.

• Published in: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
• Main Authors: Stephanie J Salyer, Esther M Ellis, Corvil Salomon, Christophe Bron, Stanley Juin, Ryan R Hemme, Elizabeth Hunsperger, Emily S Jentes, Roc Magloire, Kay M Tomashek, Anne Marie Desormeaux, Jorge L Muñoz-Jordán, Lesly Etienne, Manuela Beltran, Tyler M Sharp, Daphne Moffett, Jordan Tappero, Harold S Margolis, Mark A Katz
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2014
• Subjects: Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0003269; https://doaj.org/article/7b9c900631c2439296c5d5f4c0642b03

In October 2012, the Haitian Ministry of Health and the US CDC were notified of 25 recent dengue cases, confirmed by rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), among non-governmental organization (NGO) workers. We conducted a serosurvey among NGO workers in Léogane and Port-au-Prince to determine the extent of and risk factors for dengue virus infection. Of the total 776 staff from targeted NGOs in Léogane and Port-au-Prince, 173 (22%; 52 expatriates and 121 Haitians) participated. Anti-dengue virus (DENV) IgM antibody was detected in 8 (15%) expatriates and 9 (7%) Haitians, and DENV non-structural protein 1 in one expatriate. Anti-DENV IgG antibody was detected in 162 (94%) participants (79% of expatriates; 100% of Haitians), and confirmed by microneutralization testing as DENV-specific in 17/34 (50%) expatriates and 42/42 (100%) Haitians. Of 254 pupae collected from 68 containers, 65% were Aedes aegypti; 27% were Ae. albopictus. Few NGO workers reported undertaking mosquito-avoidance action. Our findings underscore the risk of dengue in expatriate workers in Haiti and Haitians themselves.