This document assesses the risk related to dengue for EU/EEA citizens travelling to or residing in Réunion, and the risk related to having an outbreak of dengue in mainland EU/EEA following introduction of the virus from Réunion.
Spanish authorities have reported the likely sexual transmission of dengue between two men. One of the men travelled to Cuba and the Dominican Republic (both countries where dengue is endemic) and returned to Spain on 4 September 2019.
Three autochthonous cases of dengue have been reported in France and Spain. The probability of further local sustained transmission remains very low, both in Spain and in France. Environmental conditions will become progressively less suitable for transmission over the autumn season.
This update of the risk assessment ‘Dengue outbreak in Réunion, France’ published on 5 July 2018, has been triggered by the significant size of the outbreak and its expected duration, which is anticipated to overlap with high vector activity in the southern EU.
In early October, nine cases of autochthonous dengue were confirmed in the EU, three in Spain and six in France, in three separate outbreaks. These are the first autochthonous dengue cases in continental EU/EEA Member States that were reported this year.
This update of the risk assessment published on 16 April 2018 was triggered by the unusual size and duration of the current dengue fever outbreak driven by Ae. albopictus, a mosquito vector present in Réunion and widely distributed in the southern part of EU.
A dengue outbreak of unusual magnitude is currently taking place in the French Outermost Region of Réunion. Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are considered to be the principal vector. Dengue virus (DENV) transmission in Réunion is not unexpected.
In October 2012, ECDC conducted a first mission to Madeira to set up an epidemiological surveillance system based on information supplied by Madeira’s public healthcare system.
This is the first sustained transmission of dengue in the European Union since the 1920s. Autochthonous transmission is likely to continue until the end of the year when mosquito density will probably decrease.