Assessment of dengue virus threat to blood safety and community health: A single center study in northern Egypt()

BACKGROUND: The risk of transfusion transmitted dengue (DENV) is increasingly recognized and poses a risk to blood safety as well as spreading into non-immune communities. OBJECTIVES: To determine dengue serological profile, environmental risk, knowledge, and preventive measures among blood donors in a national blood bank in northern Egypt. METHODS: A total of 500 blood donors were enrolled into this study between June and September 2018. Socio-demographic and medical data were collected using a predesigned questionnaire. Blood samples were screened for anti-DENV IgM, anti-DENV IgG and non-structural protein 1 antigen (DENV-NS1 antigen). RESULTS: History of past dengue exposure was identified in 10.2% of blood donors. No samples (0.0%) tested positive for anti-DENV IgG, IgM or NS1 antigen. At the time of blood donation, no individuals had any symptoms suggestive of a dengue-related illness. Dengue exposure strongly correlated with travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Sudan and the El-Quseir outbreak area in Egypt. Knowledge of dengue and prevention methods was found to be substantially deficient, and the relatively higher level of knowledge among exposed donors did not translate into appropriate preventative measures. CONCLUSIONS: Our risk assessment shows the impact of travel on DENV exposure and highlights its potential threat to disease spread in Egypt. Dengue awareness programs are urgently needed for effective prevention of transmission.