17 November 2019 – The Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) reported 402 cases of dengue during epidemiological week 46 (10 – 16 November) of 2019. The cumulative number of reported cases since week 31 (28 July – 5 August) this year is 2132 cases including six associated deaths with a case fatality rate of 0.3%. The attack rate was three per 10 000 population. Among all reported cases 46% were female. 71.4 % of the cases were older than 15 years of age.

On 8 of August 2019, FMOH has declared an outbreak of dengue fever in Kassala State. The cases were first reported from Kassala during week 31 and then spread to other states. Currently 24 localities in nine states are affected by dengue, namely Kassala, North Darfur, Red Sea, South Darfur, West Darfur, Algdaref, North Kurdofan, Sennar and East Darfur. The majority of cases were reported from Kassala state (1788 cases) followed by North Darfur (32 cases).

Most of the cases complained from fever, joint pain and headache (99%, 94.6%, and 92.3% respectively). Only 7.9% had bleeding, half of them from the nose.

Blood samples were collected from 141 patients from two states, with 61 coming back positive and 30 negative by ELIZA and PCR, as reported by the National Public Health Laboratory of Sudan.

WHO continues to provide leadership and support for activities with health authorities and partners to respond to this ongoing dengue outbreak, including case management, surveillance, laboratory investigations and risk communications. Entomological surveillance and vector control measures are also being implemented.