Abstract:
Dengue Virus and other Arbovirus infections are considered public health threats in
Kenya. Although it is evident that these infections are now emerging, an accurate
estimate of the magnitude of the problem has not been documented. Dengue often
presents as pyrexia, hence diseases which present with febrile illness may contribute to
false diagnosis of dengue or the diagnosis is never made. For the health burden to be
realized, the study was aimed at investigating dengue 2 virus infection and the
seroprevalence in patients presenting with febrile illness in Trans Nzoia. To describe and
document the exact threat posed by this virus in Kenya, there was need to use the right
laboratory tools to conduct regular serological surveys. For such surveys to be feasible
in the local research environment in Kenya, a cross sectional study was done using
assays which were cheap, feasible, rapid and efficient. Optimized Enzyme Linked
Immunosorbent (ELISA) and Plaque Reduction Neutralization (PRNT) assays were used
for this purpose. Serological surveillance of dengue 2 virus using these assays was done
in Kitale and Endebess District Hospital and Andersen Medical Centre, all located in
Trans Nzoia region. A total of 1121 samples were screened for dengue 2 virus infection
by ELISA and PRNT and the seroprevalence found to be 0.9% with most of the positive
patients coming from Kitale district hospital. The clinical information and laboratory
correlated well with the laboratory diagnosis with 35 (3.1%) and 15 (1.3%) positive
patients presenting with fever and headache respectively. In conclusion, the study reveals the existence of dengue 2 virus infection that poses a danger of spreading from
one area to another. The data obtained will play an important role in contributing to the
management of febrile illness in Kenya generally and in particular Trans Nzoia. Dengue
2 virus will be an addition to the diagnosis of febrile illness in this area.