Dengue outbreaks in China during 2005-2023: a systematic analysis

Abstract

Objectives Dengue fever is a major global public health concern. While China has not yet established stable, local transmission of the disease, imported cases frequently lead to local dengue epidemics throughout the year. This paper aims to outline the characteristics of dengue outbreaks in China between 2005 and 2023. Methods We collected literature on dengue in China from various databases and extracted relevant data for analysis. This data included patients’ sociodemographic characteristics, serotype composition, and clinical manifestations, which we then summarized and compared, evaluating the relationship between dengue virus (DENV) serotypes and clinical manifestations, and analyzing the monthly and regional distribution patterns of dengue fever cases based on case data obtained from the China Public Science and Health Data Center (CPC). Results In the included studies, the ratio of male to female was approximately 1:1, The age group with the highest proportion of dengue patients is those aged 30 to 39. Their occupations were predominantly business service, and the predominant serotype of the infection was DENV-1, followed by DENV-2. The major clinical signs and symptoms in dengue patients were fever, asthenia, and headache. Patients infected with DENV-1, 3 were associated with some specific clinical phenotypes. Dengue cases typically peak between September and October each year. Although these cases are primarily concentrated in the southern regions of China, there is a noticeable trend of increasing incidence in northern areas over time. Conclusions This study offers an in-depth examination of the molecular epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and the seasonal and geographic distribution of dengue cases in China from 2005 to 2023. The findings provide valuable insights for future research on dengue epidemics.