JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

On 28 July 2021, Port-Saeed health directorate was reported of a team member of the Egyptian Five-a-side ball team who was admitted to Port Saeed fever hospital in the same day with acute onset of high fever, headache, malaise, and delirium. The patient has recently returned from Nigeria with his teammates after participation in the African Cup of Nations. On asking the patient of other cases among his teammates he informed of one who started to feel sick in Nigeria and quarantined in Abasia fever hospital in Cairo and other two who are currently at their homes in Port Saeed.

Objective:

To confirm an outbreak, identify possible causes and implement necessary control measures.

Methods:

All 26 team members were contacted in their governorates. Active case finding among them and their contacts was performed using sensitive case definition. Case was defined as anyone from the Egyptian Five-a-side ball team returned from Nigeria or their contacts who complain of sudden onset of fever, malaise and/or respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms. Symptomatic patients were swabbed for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR. Blood samples were collected for malaria film and IgM for dengue testing.

Results:

Out of 26 team member, 7 complained of symptoms giving attack rate (26.9%). Their mean age was 37.1±8.6, all of them were males. Of the seven cases, 6 (85.7%) were from Port Saeed, their clinical symptoms ranged from fever 3 (42.9%) malaise, 7 (100%), headache 4 (57.1%), nausea 3 (42.9%), and one had delirium. Laboratory testing confirmed 4 cases with malaria Faciparam including one positive for COVID-19. In addition, the blood film of two patients showed Falciparam and Vivax malaria, and one patient positive for SARS-CoV-2 and Dengue. All patients recovered and discharged from hospitals. Patients did not received malaria prophylaxis before travelling and they were sleeping in tents near a forest where they exposed to mosquito bites. Vector survey was performed and mosquito spry and larvae destruction near the residential areas of all team members was implemented.

Conclusions:

An outbreak of Malaria and dengue occurred among the Egyptian Five-a-side ball team recently returned from Nigeria. The outbreak caused by defective malaria preventive measures with no prophylaxis. Outbreak was controlled through patient early detection, isolation, and treatment. In addition to entomological and environmental preventive measures. Ensure that all sportive teams travelling to malaria and dengue endemic areas receive prophylaxis and apply protective measures against mosquito bites.