Epidemiology of dengue fever in Europe

Bulgarian Medical Journal, 2024, 18(3), 17-19.

V. Doycheva, Y. Mitova-Mineva, V. Vicheva

Section “Epidemiology”, Department of Epidemiology and Hygiene, Medical University – Sofia

Abstract. Dengue fever is an illness that can be contracted from the bite of a mosquito carrying one of four types of dengue virus (DENV 1-4). The virus is most commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions, including Central and South America, Africa, parts of Asia and the Pacific Islands. Research estimates that nearly 400 million people are infected with dengue each year, but most (about 80%) have no symptoms. Dengue is spread by Aedes mosquitos – Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. In 2022, 27 EU/EEA countries reported 1757 cases of dengue (notification rate 0.4 per 100,000 population), 1560 (89%) from which were confirmed. For prevention of dengue two vaccines have been approved by the EMA − Dengvaxia (2018) и Qdenga (2022).

Key words: dengue, epidemiology, prevention

Address for correspondence: Prof. Viktoriya Doycheva, MD, PhD, e-mail: v.doycheva1966@abv.bg