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Volume 15, Number 1—January 2009
Perspective

Threat of Dengue to Blood Safety in Dengue-Endemic Countries

Annelies Wilder-SmithComments to Author , Lin H. Chen, Eduardo Massad, and Mary E. Wilson
Author affiliations: National University Singapore, Singapore (A. Wilder-Smith); Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA (L.H. Chen, M.E. Wilson); Harvard School of Public Health, Boston (M.E. Wilson); Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA (L.H. Chen, M.E. Wilson); University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (E. Massad)

Main Article

Table

Reported healthcare-associated transmission of flaviviruses

Virus Route of transmission Comment References
Dengue Percutaneous Several healthcare workers were infected after needlestick injuries during care of returned travelers who had diagnoses of dengue. (8,10–13)
Mucocutaneous A healthcare worker became infected with dengue 3 virus after being splashed in the face by blood from a febrile traveler who had a diagnosis of dengue. (7,14)
Blood transfusion A 17-year-old man from Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region, People’s Republic of China, donated blood in July 2002, from which erythrocytes were transfused to a 72-year-old woman, in whom febrile illness consistent with dengue fever developed 3 d later. (15)
Bone marrow transplant A 6-year-old child from Puerto Rico became infected with dengue 4 virus from a bone marrow transplant and died. (16)
Renal transplant
 Dengue hemorrhagic fever developed after a living donor renal transplant.
 (17)
Yellow fever
 Laboratory
 A laboratory technician acquired yellow fever after obtaining blood and performing a blood count on a yellow fever patient; he died subsequently. Yellow fever was transmitted to at least 30 other scientists and laboratory workers after contact with mouse or monkey blood or tissues or handling infected animals.
 (18–20)
West Nile Percutaneous Virus was transmitted to 2 microbiologists by laceration or needlestick injuries in laboratory. (21)
Transfusion Virus was transmitted to numerous recipients of blood products. (22,23)
Organ transplant Virus was transmitted to transplant recipients from kidneys, liver, and heart of an infected donor. (24)
Hemodialysis Virus infection in a cluster of 3 hemodialysis patients suggested transmission through a common dialysis machine. (25)

Main Article

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Page updated: December 06, 2010
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The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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