DHF Epidemics in Cuba, 1981 and 1997: Some Interesting Observations

Three main dengue outbreaks have been reported in Cuba, one in 1977, produced by DEN-1 and characterized as classical dengue fever, and two DHF epidemics, one in 1981 and the other in 1997, caused by DEN-2. Epidemiological observations revealed that secondary dengue infection was the most important risk factor for DHF/DSS after a gap of 16 to 20 years, the severity of the disease was more during the 1997 epidemic as compared to 1981, and people of both black and white races were equally infected. However, black people were at a reduced risk to manifestations of DSS as compared to white people.