Table 1 Summary of published cases of DENV transmission via non-vector routes
From: Update on non-vector transmission of dengue: relevant studies with Zika and other flaviviruses
Route of transmission | Comment | References |
|---|---|---|
Mucocutaneous | A health care worker who was splashed in the face by blood from a confirmed dengue patient was documented to have dengue infection, both identified to be DENV-3. | 1 |
Percutaneous (needle stick, laboratory injury) | Health care workers including laboratory personnel acquired DENV infection after needlestick injuries. | 4–8 |
Blood transfusion | Transfusion-transmitted dengue has been documented in Brazil and American Red Cross/CDC Dengue Branch; a DENV-4 outbreak in Brazil resulted in transfusion transmission in about a third of recipients of RNA-positive donations. | 9–11 |
Bone marrow transplant | Transmission of DENV-4 in a 6-year old child from Puerto Rico via bone marrow transplant led to a fatality. | 12 |
Solid organ transplant | DENV transmission occurred from donor to recipient after living donor liver transplantation. | 13 |
Intrapartum/perinatal | Newborns whose mothers had acute DENV infections in the peripartum period developed dengue infection, ranging from mild febrile illness with thrombocytopenia to severe manifestations. | 14–26 |
Case reports have documented intracerebral hemorrhage and fatality in infants. | ||
Systematic reviews and meta-analysis found increase risk for miscarriage for women with dengue during pregnancy, preterm birth, and low birthweight. | 18–19 | |
Breast milk | A woman confirmed to have DENV infection postpartum breastfed on days 2–4 of her illness. The infant developed symptoms of dengue starting on day 4 of mother’s illness, was confirmed by PCR with high viral load in blood, and breast milk was positive by PCR and culture. | 3 |
Oronasal | No confirmed transmission reported, but the case of mucocutaneous exposure raises possibility of oronasal infection. | 1 |
Sexual | None reported | - |