Dengue Fever Outbreak Investigation and Response in Dire Dawa City Administration, Ethiopia, 2017

Background: Dengue fever is caused by dengue virus (DENV), a member of the genus Flavivirus of the family Flaviviridae. The virus is transmitted by the infected female of the primary vector Aedes Aegyptus mosquitoes. Dengue fever is the world’s most important re-emerging arboviral disease with over 50% of the world’s population at risk of the disease. Since 2013, Ethiopia has reported more than 12,000 Dengue Fever cases. The purpose of this study is to determine risk factors of Dengue Fever outbreak and implement possible interventions in Dire Dawa City Administration Methods: we conducted 1:2 unmatched case control study from November 1 to 15, 2017. Cases were febrile patients with two or more of the following manifestations: headache, retro orbital pain, myalgia, arthralgia, rash, hemorrhagic manifestations and leucopenia. Cases were purposively collected from health facilities and controls were people without suspected Dengue Fever symptoms.  Multiple logistic regression was used to control confounders and to identify risk factors for Dengue Fever. Results: We included 180 participants (60 cases and 120 controls), among Dengue Fever cases 46 (76.6%) were males and 14(23.4%) were females. The entomological finding was (HI=21%, CI=20% and BI=20%) in the study area. Presences of tree holes (adjusted OR = 8.77: 95% CI: 2.07 – 37.07), Uncovered window (adjusted OR = 0.09: 95% CI: 0.01 – 0.58), not use replant (adjusted OR = 15.21: 95% CI: 3.59 – 54.9), Not wear long sleeved clothes (adjusted OR = 19.48: 95% CI: 5.70 -66.6), Not sprayed in the last6mths (adjusted OR = 6.86: 95% CI: 1.47 -32.02), presence of water container(adjusted OR = 15.2: 95% CI: 3.33 -68.8) were independent risk factors for dengue fever disease. From ten serum samples, six were IGM positive for DENVII. Conclusion: The outbreak is confirmed dengue fever outbreak and patients not using repellants, house without sprayed in the last six months, residents wear short sleeved cloths, open water containers and tree holes are significantly associated with enhancing the exposure to dengue fever disease infection. Keywords: [Dengue fever, Diredewa, outbreak, Aedes Eagypti] DOI : 10.7176/JMPB/63-04 Publication date: January 31 st 2020