Osong Public Health Res Perspect.  2011 Jun;2(1):34-40. 10.1016/j.phrp.2011.04.002.

Identification of Dengue Type 1 Virus (DENV-1) in Koreans Traveling Abroad

• Jeong YE
• Kim YH
• Cho JE
• Han MG
• Ju YR

• KMID: 2517962
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrp.2011.04.002

Abstract

Objectives
To date, no indigenous dengue virus (DENV) transmissions have been reported in Korea. However, imported dengue infections have been diagnosed in travelers returning from endemic areas. This study presents the first virological evidence of travel-associated DENV importation into South Korea.
Methods
From January 2004 to June 2006, a total of 278 serum samples from 245 patients with suspected dengue fever were tested using the Panbio Dengue Duo IgM/IgG Rapid Strip Test. We selected 11 of the early symptomatic-phase sera that were negative for IgM and retrospectively studied them by virus isolation and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.
Results
All 11 serum samples were found to be DENV positive by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and viruses were successfully isolated from seven of the 11 serum samples. All the isolates were identified as DENV serotype-1.
Conclusion
We successfully isolated seven DENV serotype-1 strains for the first time in South Korea from imported infections. Considering that the vector mosquito, Aedes albopictus, already exists in South Korea, we propose that a vector surveillance program for dengue is urgently needed.

Keyword

Dengue virus; diagnosis; Korea; reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction