Dengue virus is spread by infected mosquitoes and can cause severe illness and sometimes death. Millions of people living in the tropical areas of the world are infected each year earning dengue the distinction of being the most common viral infection spread by insects. Dengue causes considerable mortality among children and adults due to dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. AFRIMS is continuing critical studies with Thai and international collaborators to describe the epidemiology and pathophysiology of dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome. Many of the standard assays to diagnose dengue were developed at AFRIMS. New rapid approaches to diagnosis are being developed and tested as well as evaluation of candidate dengue vaccines.

Prospective dengue study, Kamphaeng Phet, Thailand.