TY - JOUR
T1 - Severe dengue epidemics in Sri Lanka, 2003-2006
AU - Kanakaratne, Nalaka
AU - Wahala, Wahala M.P.B.
AU - Messer, William B.
AU - Tissera, Hasitha A.
AU - Shahani, Aruna
AU - Abeysinghe, Nihal
AU - De Silva, Aravinda M.
AU - Gunasekera, Maya
PY - 2009/2
Y1 - 2009/2
N2 - Recent emergence of dengue hemorrhagic fever in the Indian subcontinent has been well documented in Sri Lanka. We compare recent (2003-2006) and past (1980-1997) dengue surveillance data for Sri Lanka. The 4 dengue virus (DENV) serotypes have been cocirculating in Sri Lanka for >30 years. Over this period, a new genotype of DENV-1 has replaced an old genotype. Moreover, new clades of DENV-3 genotype III viruses have replaced older clades. Emergence of new clades of DENV-3 in 1989 and 2000 coincided with abrupt increases in the number of reported dengue cases, implicating this serotype in severe epidemics. In 1980-1997, most reported dengue cases were in children. Recent epidemics have been characterized by many cases in children and adults. Changes in local transmission dynamics and genetic changes in DENV-3 are likely increasing emergence of severe dengue epidemics in Sri Lanka.
AB - Recent emergence of dengue hemorrhagic fever in the Indian subcontinent has been well documented in Sri Lanka. We compare recent (2003-2006) and past (1980-1997) dengue surveillance data for Sri Lanka. The 4 dengue virus (DENV) serotypes have been cocirculating in Sri Lanka for >30 years. Over this period, a new genotype of DENV-1 has replaced an old genotype. Moreover, new clades of DENV-3 genotype III viruses have replaced older clades. Emergence of new clades of DENV-3 in 1989 and 2000 coincided with abrupt increases in the number of reported dengue cases, implicating this serotype in severe epidemics. In 1980-1997, most reported dengue cases were in children. Recent epidemics have been characterized by many cases in children and adults. Changes in local transmission dynamics and genetic changes in DENV-3 are likely increasing emergence of severe dengue epidemics in Sri Lanka.
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U2 - 10.3201/eid1502.080926
DO - 10.3201/eid1502.080926
M3 - Article
C2 - 19193262
AN - SCOPUS:63849310281
SN - 1080-6040
VL - 15
SP - 192
EP - 199
JO - Emerging infectious diseases
JF - Emerging infectious diseases
IS - 2
ER -