ASSESSING THE PREVALENCE AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PATTERNS OF DENGUE FEVER IN OMDURMAN LOCALITY, SUDAN: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Kamal Elbssir, Kamla Bashier, Maza Ismail, Alaadein Ibrahem Arabe, Aya Farah Rabie, Meshkat Ibrahim Hamid

ABSTRACT

Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti, poses a growing public health threat in urban settings across tropical and subtropical regions. In Sudan, particularly in rapidly urbanizing areas like Omdurman, environmental and social conditions such as stagnant water, overcrowding, and inadequate sanitation create favorable environments for mosquito breeding and disease transmission. This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence and demographic distribution of dengue fever cases in Omdurman locality between May and August 2025. Data were extracted from hospital records of confirmed dengue cases, including age, gender, and residential information. Descriptive statistical analyses revealed key epidemiological patterns during the study period. Findings underscore the need for enhanced surveillance, integrated vector management, and community-based interventions to mitigate transmission. The study’s limitations include reliance on hospital-based data and a restricted temporal scope, potentially underestimating the true community burden. These results contribute to the growing body of evidence on dengue epidemiology in East Africa and support calls for improved public health responses in high-risk urban centers.

Keywords: Dengue fever; Aedes aegypti; prevalence; Omdurman; cross-sectional study; urban epidemiology; Sudan.