The Ministry of Public Health and Prevention in Chad has officially declared a dengue outbreak, marking the first reported instance of the disease within the country’s borders. As of the most recent update on 1 October, authorities have recorded a total of 1,342 suspected cases, which includes 41 confirmed cases, spanning eight health districts across four provinces. Tragically, one death has been attributed to the outbreak.
The epicenter of this alarming outbreak is the Abéché health district, located in the Ouaddaï province. This development has prompted a swift and coordinated response from the Ministry of Public Health and Prevention, in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO) and their dedicated partners, who are actively executing the national contingency plan for dengue preparedness and response.
Dengue, a viral infection transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes, exhibits a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. Many dengue infections result in mild, flu-like symptoms, with over 80% of cases showing no symptoms at all. Unfortunately, there is no specific antiviral treatment for dengue. Nevertheless, the timely detection of cases and appropriate management are pivotal factors in ensuring the prevention of severe and fatal outcomes associated with the disease.
Chad, a country facing its first encounter with dengue, is grappling with limited surveillance, clinical, and laboratory capabilities. Given the conducive environmental conditions for the spread of dengue-carrying mosquitoes, combined with the ongoing humanitarian crisis arising from a significant influx of refugees and returnees from Sudan, as well as constrained response capacities, the WHO has assessed the risk of this outbreak as high on a national level.
Health authorities, in collaboration with international organizations, are diligently striving to mitigate the impact of this dengue outbreak. Close monitoring, swift response efforts, and public health awareness campaigns are essential components of the multifaceted strategy employed to combat this health crisis. The situation is evolving, and stakeholders remain vigilant as they work tirelessly to contain the outbreak and protect the health of the population in Chad.
