Investigation of Dengue Fever Outbreak in a Community of Khuha-SawanSubdistrict, Maung District, PhatthalungProvince in April – May 2016

Abstract

              Investigation of dengue fever outbreak in a community of Khuha-Sawansubdistrict, Maung district, Phatthalung province between 1stApril 2016 and 13thMay 2016 was conducted to confirm the diagnosis and outbreak of dengue fever. The objectives of this work are to study the cause and distribution, and to propose the control guidelines for the specific diseases. The descriptive epidemiology was studied by using investigation forms of dengue fever provided by the bureau of epidemiology for finding the additional patients.
              The results of the investigation of dengue fever outbreak showed that 6 patients without deaths are treated in Phatthalung hospital. The patients are 1 male and 5 female in the ratio between male and female of 1:5. The median age is 11 years (IQR 8-23 years). The occupation that has the highest numbers of patients is student with a number of 4. One government officer and 1 subordinate are diagnosed with 2 DF, 3 DHF, and 1 DSS. Average stay at the hospital is 3 days (ranged 2-4 days). The most common clinical symptoms are fever and headache with 100 per cent. The second most common symptom is erythematous patch with 83.33 per cent. The index case is Thai female aged 8 years with sickness beginning on 16thApril 2016. On 20thApril 2016, there are patients with fever, headache, erythematous patch, eye socket ache, and myalgia. WBC = 2650 /uL, Plt. = 75,000 /uL, Hct = 37.7%, Dengue: IgGPos/ IgMPos are found to fit with dengue fever. From PCR laboratory results, 2 patients have Dengue type 1. The results can be used to confirm that the outbreak is caused by Dengue type 1 and we guess that the patients may receive dengue from the community because the outbreak occurs during summer and Songkran festival. The patients still stayed at home without traveling for 14 days prior to feeling unwell. When considering HI and CI of the first patient, the results showed that HI ≥10 andCI ≥ 0 in which the former disease control measures were 0, 3, 7 for all patients and 0, 14, 28 for the case of 2 or more patients. Onsite services are provided to teach people how to eliminate mosquito larva by ULV fogger and abate sand in cooperation with the volunteers regularly. Thus, there is no report on dengue fever in the community after 13th May 2016 onward. This indicates that our disease control operation is successfully done.