PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases (Oct 2014)

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

  • 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

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0003269
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 10
p. e3269

Abstract

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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.