Evolution of Dengue Serological Markers in 2023 among Patients Tested at Saint Camille Hospital, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

The 2023 dengue epidemic in Burkina Faso highlighted the severity of dengue fever as a major public health issue. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and evolution of dengue infection during 2023. The study involved 6474 suspected cases aged 0 to 98 years who attended general medicine consultations and were referred to the Saint Camille Hospital laboratory for serological diagnosis of dengue fever from January to December 2017. Using the Dengue Duo Bioline SD Kit (Standard Diagnostic Inc., Korea), the presence of NS1 antigen and IgM/IgG antibodies was detected in serum or plasma. The study population was predominantly female (57.3%, 3710/6474). An overall prevalence of 16.7% (1080/6474) for NS1Ag was observed, with 15.0% (556/3710) in females and 19.0% (524/2764) in males. Patients aged 16 - 25 years were significantly more affected, with 22.1% (321/1450) testing positive for NS1Ag and 5.7% (83/1450) for IgM, compared to children under 5 years, who showed 11.8% (83/703) positivity for NS1Ag and 2.6% (18/703) for IgM. IgG positivity was significantly more prevalent in the age group 41 - 60 years, with 17.0% (139/819) testing positive, compared to 5.8% (41/703) in children under 5 years. Triple-positive patients accounted for 0.4% (27/6474) of the study population, with males being twice as prevalent as females in this group. The peak of infections occurred between mid-October and mid-November, coinciding with the end of the rainy season in Burkina Faso. This study underscores the high seroprevalence of acute dengue virus infection in symptomatic patients. It highlights the need for effective vector control strategies, including the destruction of breeding sites, personal protection measures, and enhanced surveillance starting in August, to prevent future outbreaks of dengue fever in Burkina Faso.