A case series of suspected dengue-like illness in Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61529/idjp.v35i3.443Abstract
Dengue is an arbovirus endemic to Pakistan, with frequent outbreaks reported nationwide. We report a case series of 11 patients who presented during an outbreak of dengue-like illness in Karachi between November and December 2021. Although initial dengue testing was negative in most patients, further molecular testing identified Zika virus in two patients, including one patient with dengue and Zika virus co-infection. Neither patient had a recent travel history; however, absence of travel history alone does not establish local transmission. This case series highlights the diagnostic challenge of distinguishing Zika virus and dengue virus infection in patients presenting with dengue-like illness and supports consideration of broader molecular testing during unexplained arboviral outbreaks.
Keywords: Arboviruses, Coinfection, Dengue, Outbreaks, Zika virus.
References
Ammar M, Moaaz M, Yue C, Fang Y, Zhang Y, Shen S, et al. Emerging arboviral diseases in pakistan: epidemiology and public health implications. Viruses. 2025;17(2): 232. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/v17020232
Awan UA, Zahoor S, Ayub A, Ahmed H, Aftab N, Afzal MS. COVID-19 and arboviral diseases: Another challenge for Pakistan's dilapidated healthcare system. J Med Virol. 2021; 93(7): 4065-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.26668
Waseem S, Ahmed SH, Shaikh TG, Qadar LT, Khalid S, Nimavat N, et al. Mysterious dengue-like virus: A case report from Pakistan. Clin Case Rep. 2022; 10(7): e6107. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ccr3.6107
Chen S, Saqib M, Khan HS, Bai Y, Ashfaq UA, Mansoor MK, et al. Risk of infection with arboviruses in a healthy population in Pakistan based on seroprevalence. Virol Sin. 2024; 39(3): 369-77. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virs.2024.04.001
Iqbal NT, Sawatzki K, Ahmed K, Tisoncik-Go J, Smith E, Voss K, et al. Identification of Co-Circulating Dengue and South America–Origin Zika Viruses, Pakistan, 2021–2022. Emerg Infect Dis. 2025; 31(8): 1648-51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3108.250342
Khan YH, Salman M, Butt MH, Mallhi TH. Viral fever of unknown origin during COVID-19 and dengue outbreaks in Pakistan: Is media spreading panic during pandemic? J Med Virol. 2022; 94(5): 1792-3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.27569
Hasan A, Hossain MM, Zamil MF, Trina AT, Hossain MS, Kumkum A, et al. Concurrent transmission of Zika virus during the 2023 dengue outbreak in Dhaka, Bangladesh. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2025; 19(1): e0012866. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012866
Moreira J, Lamas CC, Siqueira A. Sexual transmission of zika virus: Implications for clinical care and public health policy. Clin Infect Dis. 2016; 63(1): 141-2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciw211
Organization PAH. Zika virus infection: Step-by-step guide on case management. Washington, D.C.: Pan American Health Organization; 2016.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Haleema Sadia , Kumail Ahmed , Syed Faisal Mahmood, Erum Khan , Najeeha Talat Iqbal
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
