The Saudi Society of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (SSMMID), with the cooperation of the concerning pharmaceutical companies including Sanofi Pasture, had organized the 10th annual conference of Saudi Society of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. The Saudi Society of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases had organized the first session in Saudi Arabia mainly dedicated to dengue disease and its updated impacts locally and globally. The session had enjoyed extensive participation of renowned and expert international and national speakers. Dr. Nezar Bahabry, head of the Saudi Society for Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and an infectious disease consultant, said "dengue is still a growing public health threat in tropical and subtropical countries. Since that the incidence of dengue has grown dramatically around the world in recent decades, it typically hits health care systems and disrupts social and economic activity as well, dengue fever is an acute febrile illness caused by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, which are endemic in certain cities of Saudi Arabia, such as Jeddah, Makkah and Southern Region." Dr. Osama Alwafi, Head of MOH working group for dengue fever, said: "Dengue is a complex disease with a wide spectrum of clinical presentations. Tetravalent dengue vaccine was approved in 4 countries including Mexico, Brazil, El Salvador and Philippines for the prevention of disease caused by four dengue types in individuals from 9-45 years of age living in endemic areas. The vaccine is administered in three doses given over a one-year period. The Saudi Ministry of Health Statistical Records indicate a total of 20,034 reported clinical cases in Saudi Arabia, between 2004 and 2013, mostly in the cities of Jeddah and Makkah on the Western coast of the country, confirming the endemicity and yearly occurrence of dengue. Clinical manifestations include significant and severe manifestations of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS)." Dengue fever is the most common mosquito transmitted disease of mankind. Around 2.5 billion people in the world are at risk of infection. More than 100 countries are affected by dengue outbreaks.
