Assessing Dengue Virus Importation Risks in Africa: A Climate and Travel-Based Model
Authors: Poongavanan Jenicca , Lourenço José , Tsui Joseph L.-H. , Colizza Vittoria , Ramphal Yajna , Baxter Cheryl , Kraemer Moritz U.G. , Dunaiski Marcel , de Oliveira Tulio , Tegally Houriiyah 
Published: May 2024

Background

Dengue is a significant global public health concern that poses a threat to Africa. Particularly, African countries are at risk of viral introductions through air travel connectivity with areas of South America and Asia that experience frequent explosive outbreaks. Limited reporting and diagnostic capacity hinder a comprehensive assessment of continent-wide transmission dynamics and deployment of surveillance strategies in Africa. This study aimed to identify African airports at high risk of receiving dengue infected passengers from Asia, Latin America and other African countries with high dengue incidence.

Methods

The risk of dengue introduction into Africa from countries of high incidence in Africa, Latin America and within Africa was estimated based on origin-destination air travel flows and epidemic activity at origin. We produced a novel proxy for local dengue epidemic activity using a composite index of theoretical climate-driven transmission suitability and population density, which we used, along with travel information in a risk flow model, to estimate importation risk.

Findings

We find that countries in East Africa face higher estimated risk of importation from Asia and other East African countries, whereas for West African countries, larger risk of importation is estimated from within the region. Some countries with high risk of importation experience low local transmission suitability which likely hampers the chances that importations lead to local transmission and establishment. Conversely, Mauritius, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Kenya are identified as countries susceptible to dengue introductions during periods of persistent transmission suitability.

Interpretation

Our work improves data driven allocation of surveillance resources, in regions of Africa that are at high risk of dengue introduction and establishment, including from regional circulation. This will be critical in detecting and managing imported cases and can improve local response to dengue outbreaks.

Funding

Rockefeller Foundation, National Institute of Health, EDCTP3 and Horizon Europe Research and Innovation, World Bank Group, Medical Research Foundation, Wellcome Trust,Google.org, Oxford Martin School Pandemic Genomics programme, John Fell Fund.

Research in context

Evidence before this study

Despite the significant global burden of dengue virus, Africa remains relatively understudied due to limited reporting and diagnostic capabilities. We searched PubMed for articles in English published on and before May 6, 2024, that included “Dengue OR dengue”, “Africa”, and “importation OR imported”. Few studies have investigated the introduction of dengue into African countries. Limited evidence includes phylogeographic studies describing a potential introduction of dengue from Brazil into Angola in 2013 and evidence of multiple historical introductions of dengue from Asia to Africa over several years. Before our study, none had employed a modelling framework to investigate the continental risks of importing dengue via viremic travellers into African countries from other regions of high dengue incidence.

Added value of this study

This study provides a novel approach to assessing the risk of dengue importation into Africa, integrating climate-dependent transmission suitability and air travel data. By identifying high-risk regions and highlighting the complex interplay between travel patterns, population density, and climatic factors, our findings enhance the understanding of ongoing dengue dynamics in Africa. This information enables targeted allocation of surveillance resources, improving preparedness and response to potential dengue outbreaks in susceptible regions.

Implications of all the available evidence

The integration of transmission suitability as a proxy for local epidemic activity and air travel data into a risk flow metric provides valuable insights into the risk of dengue importation into African airports from high-incidence countries. These findings have implications for tailored surveillance and prevention strategies in high-risk regions, facilitating early detection and management of potential imported dengue outbreaks in Africa.