Molecular epidemiology identifies the expansion of the DENV2 epidemic lineage from the French Caribbean Islands to French Guiana and mainland France, 2023 to 2024
Raphaëlle Klitting, Géraldine Piorkowski, Dominique Rousset, André Cabie, Étienne Frumence, Alisé Lagrave, Anne Lavergne, Antoine Enfissi, George Dos Santos, Laurence Fagour, Raymond Césaire, Marie‐Christine Jaffar‐Bandjee, Nicolas Traversier, Patrick Gérardin, Rayane Amaral, Lucie Fournier, Lucie Léon, Frédérique Dorléans, Muriel Vincent, arbovirus genomics diagnostic laboratories working group, Albin Fontaine, Anna‐Bella Failloux, Nazlı Ayhan, Laura Pezzı, Gilda Grard, Guillaume André Durand, Xavier de Lamballerie
Abstract
In 2023, dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV2) affected most French overseas territories. In the French Caribbean Islands, viral circulation continues with > 30,000 suspected infections by March 2024. Genome sequence analysis reveals that the epidemic lineage in the French Caribbean islands has also become established in French Guiana but not Réunion. It has moreover seeded autochthonous circulation events in mainland France. To guide prevention of further inter-territorial spread and DENV introduction in non-endemic settings, continued molecular surveillance and mosquito control are essential.