Covid‐19 and dengue: Double punches for dengue‐endemic countries in Asia
Harapan Harapana b c d e f✉, Mirza Ryanb e, Benediktus Yohang h, Rufika Shari Abidini j, Firzan Nainuk l, Ahmed Rakibm n, Israt Jahano p, Talha Bin Emranq r, Irfan Ullahs t, Kritu Pantau v, Kuldeep Dhamaw x✉, R. Tedjo Sasmonog h
- aDepartment of Microbiology, School of Medicine Universitas Syiah Kuala Banda Aceh Indonesia
- bMedical Research Unit, School of Medicine Universitas Syiah Kuala Banda Aceh Indonesia
- cTropical Disease Centre, School of Medicine Universitas Syiah Kuala Banda Aceh Indonesia
- dDepartment of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
- eMedical Research Unit, School of Medicine, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
- fTropical Disease Centre, School of Medicine, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
- gEijkman Institute for Molecular Biology Jakarta Indonesia
- hEijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Jakarta, Indonesia
- iFaculty of Medicine Hasanuddin University Makassar Indonesia
- jFaculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
- kFaculty of Pharmacy Hasanuddin University Makassar Indonesia
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Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is an international public health crisis with devastating effects. In particular, this pandemic has further exacerbated the burden in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, where dengue fever, caused by dengue virus (DENV), is already endemic to the population. The similar clinical manifestations shared by Covid-19 and dengue fever have raised concerns, especially in dengue-endemic countries with limited resources, leading to diagnostic challenges. In addition, cross-reactivity of the immune responses in these infections is an emerging concern, as pre-existing DENV-antibodies might potentially affect Covid-19 through antibody-dependent enhancement. In this review article, we aimed to raise the issue of Covid-19 and dengue fever misdiagnosis, not only in a clinical setting but also with regards to cross-reactivity between SARS-CoV-2 and DENV antibodies. We also have discussed the potential consequences of overlapping immunological cascades between dengue and Covid-19 on disease severity and vaccine development.