Assessment of the readiness and response toward the dengue fever outbreak (2019) in Sudan: a qualitative exploration

Abstract

Abstract Background Dengue fever (DF) is a mosquito-borne viral disease transmitted by Aedes mosquito species and has been considered a major public health problem in Kassala State for tens of years. This study aimed to assess the level of readiness and response toward the 2019 dengue fever outbreak in Kassala at the state and community levels. Methods This exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted in Kassala State, Sudan, from January to March 2020. The researcher conducted interviews with the key respondents at the state level to assess the level of readiness and response and to reflect the capacity of institutions—public health authorities, health systems, and emergency response bodies. Results The surveillance system reported 3961 DF cases in Kassala State, representing 93.5% of the total cases in Sudan between August 2019 and January 2020. This outbreak was identified by passive surveillance, 51 samples were tested during the outbreak period, and private clinics and labs were not included in the surveillance system. According to the WHO checklist of outbreak readiness and response, Kassala's surveillance system and public health laboratory received the lowest scores. Conclusions The study concludes that outbreak readiness and response could be considered below standards, mainly in the surveillance system and laboratory diagnostic facilities, due to the absence of intersectoral collaboration with a regulatory framework in terms of financial and operational participation.