Introduction of the American/Asian genotype of dengue 2 virus into the Yucatan State of Mexico

• Published in: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene Vol. 71; no. 4; p. 485
• Main Authors: Loroño-Pino, María A, Farfán-Ale, José A, Zapata-Peraza, Alicia L, Rosado-Paredes, Elsy P, Flores-Flores, Luis F, García-Rejón, Julián E, Díaz, Francisco J, Blitvich, Bradley J, Andrade-Narváez, Manuel, Jiménez-Ríos, Eusebio, Blair, Carol D, Olson, Ken E, Black, 4th, William, Beaty, Barry J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-10-2004
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Child; Child, Preschool; Dengue - epidemiology; Dengue - physiopathology; Dengue - virology; Dengue Virus - classification; Dengue Virus - genetics; Dengue Virus - isolation & purification; Disease Outbreaks; Female; Genotype; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Mexico - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Molecular Epidemiology; Phylogeny; Severe Dengue - epidemiology; Severe Dengue - physiopathology; Severe Dengue - virology; Severity of Illness Index; Mexico
• ISSN: 0002-9637
• DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2004.71.485

A dengue (DEN) outbreak occurred in the Yucatan State of Mexico in 2002. Three isolates were obtained from patients presenting with DEN-like symptoms, and examined by partial nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The isolates were identified as DEN-2 viruses of the American-Asian genotype; this is the first report of this genotype in the Yucatan State. The DEN-2 viruses of the American-Asian genotype have been associated with more severe disease outcomes. Thus, its introduction into the Yucatan State presents a serious problem to public health authorities. During this outbreak, DEN virus infection was confirmed in 18% (282 of 1,560) of the patients who presented with DEN-like symptoms. Of these, 87 (31%) patients met the World Health Organization criteria for dengue hemorrhagic fever, including two patients who died. The majority (77%) of the patients experienced secondary infections in this epidemic.