Outbreak of Dengue fever in Edo State, South-South, Nigeria: Case Series
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Keywords
Nigeria, Dengue fever, Case series, Public Health, Aedes mosquitoes
Abstract
Dengue fever (DF) remains an emerging but underrecognized public health threat in Nigeria, often misdiagnosed as malaria or other acute febrile illnesses due to overlapping symptoms. This case series documents the first clinically and laboratory-confirmed outbreak of dengue in Edo State, Nigeria, between December 2024 and June 2025. Seven patients were diagnosed using RT-PCR atIrrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, with a mean age of 35 years (IQR: 22-45); four were females. The most common symptoms were general weakness (85.7%), headache (71.4%), and vomiting (71.4%), while fever occurred in only four cases. Geospatial mapping revealed clustering within households and local government areas, suggesting focal transmission, likely driven by urban Aedes mosquito breeding. Despite delays in hospital presentation, all patients survived without complications. Our findings present atypical dengue presentations in Nigeria, emerging local transmission, and the urgent need to strengthen surveillance, vector control, diagnostics, and public health awareness to mitigate future outbreaks.
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