DENGUE HEMORRHAGIC-FEVER IN THE FRENCH-WEST-INDIES - 3 FATAL CASES

BACKGROUND: Two outbreaks of dengue hemorrhagic fever occurred in Guad eloupe (French West Indies) in successive epidemics in 1994 and 1995. The first outbreak was caused by DEN-2 virus and the second by DEN-1. CASE REPORTS: Seven life-threatening infections (WHO grade 3/4) were i dentified. Three previously healthy adults (including: two brothers) d ied. Autopsy reports (2 patients) disclosed hemorrhagic serous effusio ns, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and in one case a spontane ous spleen rupture. DISCUSSION: Dengue fever is an emerging disease. i ts severe hemorrhagic form tends to an uprising incidence and can no l onger be considered a disease limited to children in Far-Eastern Asia. Fatalities may occur very suddenly and unexpectedly, even in optimal health care settings, in healthy adults living or travelling in endemi c areas, notably the Caribbean. (C) 1998, Masson, Paris.