Caracterización final y lecciones de la epidemia de dengue 3 en Cuba, 2001-2002 Final characterization of and lessons learned from the dengue 3 epidemic in Cuba, 2001-2002

• Main Authors: María G. Guzmán, Otto Peláez, Gustavo Kourí, Ibrahim Quintana, Susana Vázquez, Macdelín Pentón, Luis Carlos Ávila
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; Spanish; Portuguese
• Published: Pan American Health Organization 2006
• Subjects: dengue; fiebre dengue hemorrágica; vigilancia epidemiológica; brotes de enfermedades; Cuba; dengue hemorrhagic fever; epidemiologic surveillance; disease outbreaks; Medicine; R; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Arctic; Sickle
• Online Access: https://doaj.org/article/94f73ca209b44254bb005753bd990ba9

Over the past 10 years, the American Region has witnessed the reintroduction and dissemination of dengue virus serotype 3. In this paper we describe the main clinical and epidemiologic features of the dengue 3 epidemic that broke out in Cuba between June 2001 and March 2002, as well as the measures that were undertaken to eliminate it. A total of 14 524 confirmed cases were reported, 12 889 (88,7%) of them in the City of Havana. Eighty-one cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever were confirmed, three of which died. Secondary infection, white skin color, sickle cell anemia, and bronchial asthma were risk factors for dengue hemorrhagic fever. Active clinical and epidemiologic surveillance and laboratory support were critical to the early detection of transmission and to the monitoring of the epidemic. Widespread involvement of the community and its different sectors, participation of the mass media with a single leadership in command, and strong political will were the key factors that made it possible to eliminate transmission. This epidemic was one more example of the risk of dengue epidemics faced by countries in the area, including those that have strong surveillance and control programs. It also served to show that by applying the principles established by the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization for dengue control, transmission can be stopped.