Dengue and COVID‐19, overlapping epidemics? An analysis from Colombia

• Published in: Journal of medical virology Vol. 93; no. 1; pp. 522 - 527
• Main Authors: Cardona‐Ospina, Jaime A., Arteaga‐Livias, Kovy, Villamil‐Gómez, Wilmer E., Pérez‐Díaz, Carlos E., Katterine Bonilla‐Aldana, D., Mondragon‐Cardona, Álvaro, Solarte‐Portilla, Marco, Martinez, Ernesto, Millan‐Oñate, Jose, López‐Medina, Eduardo, López, Pio, Navarro, Juan‐Carlos, Perez‐Garcia, Luis, Mogollon‐Rodriguez, Euler, Rodríguez‐Morales, Alfonso J., Paniz‐Mondolfi, Alberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-01-2021; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Colombia; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - mortality; dengue; Dengue - epidemiology; Dengue - mortality; Dengue fever; Epidemics; Epidemics - statistics & numerical data; Epidemiological Monitoring; Epidemiology; Humans; Infections; Intensive care; Latin America; Mechanical ventilation; overlapping; SARS‐CoV‐2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Short Communication; Short Communications; syndemic; Vector-borne diseases; Ventilation; Ventilators; Viral diseases; Virology; Viruses; Colombia; Latin America; COVID-19; syndemic; Colombia; SARS-CoV-2; overlapping; dengue; Latin America
• ISSN: 0146-6615; 1096-9071
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.26194

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), has rapidly spread throughout Latin America, a region swept by multiple previous and ongoing epidemics. There are significant concerns that the arrival of COVID‐19 is currently overlapping with other viruses, particularly dengue, in various endo‐epidemic regions across South America. In this report, we analyzed trends for both viral infections in Colombia during the first 20 epidemiological weeks (EWs) of 2020. From 1st January to 16th May 2020 (EWs, 1‐20), a total of 52 679 cases of dengue and 14 943 cases of COVID‐19 have been confirmed in Colombia. As both conditions may potentially lead to fatal outcomes, especially in patients with chronic co‐morbidities, overlapping infections, and co‐occurrence may increase the number of patients requiring intensive care and mechanical ventilation. In regions, such as Valle del Cauca, intensified preparation for such scenarios should be pondered, and further studies should be performed to address this critical issue in a timely matter.
Highlights
Overlap between COVID‐19 and endemic diseases, such as Dengue, in certain regions, such as Latin America, is a mattern of concern.
In Colombia during the first 20 epidemiological weeks of 2020, a total of 52,679 cases of dengue and 14,943 cases of COVID‐19 have been confirmed.
Both conditions may potentially lead to fatal outcomes, especially in patients with chronic co‐morbidities.
COVID‐19 and dengue together may increase the number of patients requiring intensive care and mechanical ventilation.
Further studies should be performed to address this critical issue in a timely matter.