The first confirmed case of imported dengue fever in the United Arab Emirates: Clinical, public health, and epidemiological aspects

Dengue fever is a highly prevalent viral disease in many tropical areas, especially during the rainy seasons; it is transmitted to humans through the bite of Aedes mosquitoes. Many expatriates in the United Arab Emirates come from endemic areas, and can import the disease with them. As the vector is currently not found in the United Arab Emirates no local transmission can happen, and only sporadic cases may occur. Early recognition of such cases is important, as timely treatment, may prevent serious consequences especially in the hemorrhagic form of the disease. We report the first confirmed case of imported dengue fever in the UAE, and discuss its epidemiological aspects.