The Saudi Society of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (SSMMID) held a session on dengue as part of its 10th annual conference. It was held in cooperation with Sanofi Pasture and other concerned pharmaceutical companies.

This was stated to be the first session of its kind on dengue in the Kingdom. It was mainly dedicated to dengue disease and its updated impacts locally and globally. The session had the participation of national and international experts and speakers.

Dr. Nezar Bahabry, head of the Saudi Society for Medial Microbiology and Infectious Diseases commented: “Dengue is still a growing public health threat in tropical and subtropical countries. Since the incidence of dengue has grown dramatically around the world in recent decades, it typically hits health care systems and disrupts social and economic activity as well.”

The infectious disease consultant added that dengue fever is an acute febrile illness caused by aedes aegypti and aedes albopictus, which are “endemic in some parts of Saudi Arabia, including Makkah, Jeddah, and the southern region.”

Dr. Osama Alwafi, head of the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) working group for dengue fever, said: “Dengue is a complex disease with a wide spectrum of clinical presentations. Tetravalent dengue vaccine was approved in four countries - Mexico, Brazil, El Salvador and Philippines - for the prevention of disease caused by four dengue types in individuals from 9-45 years of age living in endemic areas.”

The vaccine is administered in three doses, which are given over a one year period. The MOH’s statistical records indicate a total of 20,034 reported clinical cases in Saudi Arabia, between 2004 and 2013, mostly in the cities of Makkah and Jeddah, and along the Western coast of the country, confirming the endemicity and yearly occurrence of dengue, he added.

Clinical manifestations include significant and severe manifestations of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS).”

Dengue fever is the most common mosquito transmitted disease of mankind. Around 2.5 billion people in the world are at risk of infection. More than 100 countries are affected by dengue outbreaks.