Dengue virus serotype-3 (subtype-III) in Port Blair, India.

fever (DHF) have been occurring in the South East Asian Region (SEAR)1 and are considered to be an emerging public health problem world over2. Dengue is an Aedes transmitted viral infection caused by any of the four dengue virus serotypes (DENV 1–4) which belong to the genus Flavivirus. This virus causes spectrum of manifestations ranging from DF to DHF and dengue shock syndrome (DSS), which is fatal and usually associated with secondary infections1. In India, DF, DHF and DSS have been reported from different parts of the country3–4. Port Blair is the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, an archipelago of >500 islands and islets situated in the Bay of Bengal, at a distance of 1200 km from the peninsular India. People are constantly moving between mainland of India and these islands. Dengue was not reported from these islands5. However, patients with febrile DF, DHF and DSS were reported for the first time in 20094. Subsequently, circulation of dengue serotypes 1 and 2 was established6. From mid-July 2013, medical and public health professionals observed an increase in the number of febrile cases with retro-orbital pain among the Wharf (a structure adjoining the harbour comprising a barrack housing the security personnel) staff of Haddo area adjoining the harbour in Port Blair. The Directorate of Health Services, Andaman and Nicobar Administration requested to investigate the cause for the sudden increase in number of febrile cases. In view of the clinical features suggestive of dengue and widespread prevalence and infestation of vector mosquitoes, dengue infection was suspected7–8. We report the findings of the investigations undertaken among the suspected cases (security personnel) residing in barrack adjoining the harbour area. A case definition for suspected DF was made based on the symptoms/signs listed in WHO guidelines9. We used a more inclusive case definition that mandated presence of any one of the symptoms/signs such as sudden onset of fever, headache, retro-orbital pain, and myalgia J Vector Borne Dis 51, March 2014, pp. 58–61