Dengue fever caused by dengue virus serotype - 3 (subtype-Ill) in a rural area of Madurai district, Tamil Nadu

摘要

Sir,Dengue fever (DF) is considered as a serious global public health problem, since an estimated 2.5 billion people around the world are at risk of contracting dengue infection and among the infected people 250,000 patients may progress to severe form of diseases namely, dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF)/ dengue shock syndrome (DSS) annually. In India, DF and DHF had been documented in different parts of the country. In southern India, particularly, in Tamil Nadu, DF and DHF have been well documented. During July 2007, cases of suspected dengue fever were reported from two rural areas/hamlets namely O. Alangulam, P. Alankulam near Madurai Corporation, Madurai, Tamil Nadu. The present communication reports the results of the serological and virological analysis carried out in the affected area to find out the aetiology of the suspected outbreak. The hamlets get drinking water from bore well pump. Roofed and thatched houses are the common pattern of human settlements existing in these hamlets.