Dengue virus (DENV) is a flavivirus transmitted through the bite of an infected *Aedes* spp. mosquito. The disease is endemic to tropical and subtropical regions and each year affects ≈100 million persons worldwide. Most cases are reported from Southeast Asia and Central and South America ([@R1]*,*[@R2]).

The incubation period for DENV infection is 3--14 days. Manifestations are nonspecific and range from asymptomatic to severe ([@R3]*,*[@R4]). Most infections are benign, with few deaths. In 2%--3% of patients, dengue hemorrhagic fever develops ([@R5]).

DENV has 4 distinct serotypes. Primary infection with 1 serotype confers lifelong immunity to that serotype but increases the risk for severe dengue illness after secondary infection with another serotype ([@R6]). No specific therapy exists for dengue.

During the past few decades, dengue has emerged in tropical and subtropical countries worldwide ([@R1]*,*[@R7]). In addition, the number of reported symptomatic DENV infections among international travelers has increased ([@R5]*,*[@R8]*,*[@R9]). This increase may reflect increased incidence of dengue among travelers, increased number of travelers to areas in which dengue is endemic, increased awareness of the disease among physicians, or a combination of these factors.

However, valid research on travelers' risk for DENV infection is scarce. To our knowledge, only 2 prospective studies, performed in the 1990s ([@R10]*,*[@R11]), have been conducted. Most other epidemiologic studies are retrospective and focus on symptomatic patients who seek care at a clinical site, thus disregarding the nonspecific nature of the infection and the increased number of travelers to dengue-endemic areas ([@R5]*,*[@R8]*,*[@R9]*,*[@R12]*,*[@R13]).

We prospectively estimated the prevalence and incidence of DENV infection and its risk factors. Our findings are based on serologic testing in a cohort of short-term travelers from the Netherlands to dengue-endemic areas.

Methods
=======

Study Population
----------------

We prospectively studied persons attending the travel clinic of the Public Health Service Amsterdam during October 1, 2006--September 30, 2007. All persons [\>]{.ul}18 years of age were eligible if they planned to travel for 1--13 weeks to [\>]{.ul}1 countries to which dengue is endemic. Dengue endemicity was based on information from The Global Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Online Network ([@R14]).

All participants were seen by a medical doctor or nurse who specialized in travel medicine. They received vaccinations, a prescription for antimalarial chemoprophylaxis if required, and oral and written information about how to avoid acquiring travel-related diseases, including mosquito-borne infections, according to Dutch National Guidelines on Traveler's Health Advice ([@R15]).

Survey Methods
--------------

Before departure (just before they received the required vaccinations) and 2--6 weeks after return, participants donated venous blood samples for serologic testing. Before departure,they completed a standard questionnaire to collect data on sociodemographic factors, including travel history, vaccination status, and the purpose of travel (tourism, work/education, or visits to friends and/or relatives).

Participants were given a digital thermometer and asked to take their temperature (axillary or rectally) when feeling feverish. They kept a structured travel and posttravel diary to record symptoms and signs of dengue illness (fever, myalgia, arthralgia, headache, retro-orbital pain, skin rash, signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal disease), use of insect repellent containing N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), and use of mosquito netting. Participants were asked to report both the presence and absence of symptoms and preventive measures on a daily basis; after travel, the diary was checked by a registered nurse in the participant's presence.

To encompass the incubation period of DENV infection, we used data from the third day after arrival at the travel destination until 2 weeks after return from travel. With respect to symptomatic outcome, we used the term travel-related to refer to this period.

Destinations were grouped into regions by using the classification of the United Nations Development Agency ([@R16]). Travel duration was recorded as the total days spent in areas meeting the inclusion criteria.

The Medical Ethics Committee of the Academic Medical Centre Amsterdam approved the study protocol. Participants were included only if they provided informed and written consent.

Laboratory Methods
------------------

Blood samples were immediately stored at 6°C, then centrifuged and frozen at --80°C within 24 h after collection. After all study participants had returned, all posttravel serum samples were thawed and tested for immunoglobulin (Ig) M antibodies to DENV antigen by using an IgM-capture ELISA and for IgG antibodies to DENV antigen serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4 by using an indirect ELISA (Panbio Diagnostics, Brisbane, Queensland,Australia) according to the manufacturer's instructions. For participants whose posttravel sample yielded positive test results for anti-DENV IgM or IgG, pretravel samples were also tested for anti-DENV IgM or IgG, respectively.

The ELISA for anti-DENV IgM has a sensitivity of 87%--100% and a specificity of 96% ([@R17]*--*[@R19]). The ELISA for anti-DENV IgG has a sensitivity of 99%--100% and a specificity of 96%--98% ([@R17]*,*[@R20]). These test characteristics concern the use of paired serum samples.

Serology suggestive for previous DENV infection was defined as an anti-DENV IgG \>11 Panbio units in both the pretravel and the posttravel sample. The posttravel-to-pretravel anti-DENV IgG ratio was \<4:1.

We defined seroconversion indicating recent DENV infection. Criteria were as follows: 1) posttravel anti-DENV IgM \>11 Panbio units with pretravel anti-DENV IgM \<11 Panbio units and anti-DENV IgG \<11 Panbio units; and/or 2) posttravel anti-DENV IgG \>11 Panbio units and pretravel anti-DENV IgG \<11 Panbio units, with a posttravel-to-pretravel ratio of [\>]{.ul}4:1; and/or 3) anti-DENV IgG \>11 Panbio units in both the pretravel and posttravel sample, with a posttravel-to-pretravel ratio of [\>]{.ul}4:1 ([@R21]).

Data Analysis
-------------

To calculate risk factors for previous DENV infection, we used SPSS for Windows version 17.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) to obtain prevalence rates, univariate and multivariate prevalence rate ratios, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) by using logistic regression modeling. All variables with an overall p value \<0.05 in univariate analysis were included in multivariate analysis. Statistical interactions between variables were checked for all variables. If significant (p\<0.05), they were included in multivariate analysis.

We calculated attack rates of recent DENV infection per 100 travelers by dividing the number of seroconversions by the total number of participants. Incidence rates (IR) per 1,000 person-months were calculated by dividing the number of seroconversions by the total number of months in which participants were at risk for DENV infection. To calculate risk factors for recent DENV infection, incidence rate ratios (IRR) were obtained as conditional maximum-likelihood estimates of the rate ratio, with mid-P exact test, 95% CIs, and p values. We quantified the application of a protective measure against mosquito bites by dividing the number of days the measure was applied by the number of travel days; it was dichotomized by using the mean of this proportion in the total study population as the cutoff.

Travel during the rainy months was assessed by using the midtravel dates. The rainy months per destination were defined as months with an average total precipitation of \>100 mm, based on World Weather Information Service data from the United Nations' World Meteorological Organisation ([@R22]).

We used χ^2^ tests to evaluate the predictive value of travel-related signs and symptoms for recent DENV infection. Fever was defined as a body temperature [\>]{.ul}38°C. Dengue-like illness was defined as any episode of fever accompanied by [\>]{.ul}1 of the following: myalgia, arthralgia, headache, retro-orbital pain, or skin rash. A p value \<0.05 was considered significant.

Results
=======

Study Population
----------------

The study began with 1,276 participants who intended to travel to dengue-endemic areas. Of these, 69 (5.4%) were excluded: 33 were lost to follow-up; 23 had their travel arrangements cancelled; 7 did not supply the posttravel blood donation; 3 changed travel plans such that inclusion criteria were not met; 2 did not complete the structured diary; and for 1, the posttravel sample was lost.

Most of the remaining 1,207 participants were persons of Dutch origin who were traveling for tourism and previously had traveled to dengue-endemic areas ([Tables 1](#T1){ref-type="table"}, [2](#T2){ref-type="table"}). The median travel duration was 21 days, with an interquartile range (IQR) of 16--28. The median interval between return from travel and posttravel blood donation was 25 days (IQR 21--29).

###### Characteristics of 1,207 persons who traveled from the Netherlands to dengue-endemic countries and who attended a travel clinic for pretravel health advice, October 1, 2006--September 30, 2007\*

  Characteristic                                              Total, no. (%)   Previous DENV          Univariate analysis                       Multivariate analysis                                          
  ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- --------------- ------ --------------------- ------------------- ----------------------- ------------------- ------------------ ----------
  No. participants                                            1,207 (100)      78              6.5                          NA                                                                                 
  Sex                                                                                                                                                                                                          
  M                                                           521 (43)         29              5.6                          1                                                                                  
  F                                                           686 (57)         49              7.1                          1.3 (0.81--2.1)     0.27                                                           
  Median age, y, IQR                                          38, 29--51       49, 35--59             1.04 (1.02--1.06)     \<0.0001                                    1.03 (1.01--1.05)   0.003              
  Country of birth                                                                                                                                                                                             
  Non--dengue-endemic country                                 1,118 (93)       40              3.6                          1                                                               1                  
  Dengue-endemic country                                      89 (7)           38              43                           20.1 (11.9--34.0)   \<0.0001                                    14.4 (8.1--25.6)   \<0.0001
  No. times previously traveled to a dengue-endemic country                                                                                     \<0.0001                                                       0.004
  0--1                                                        447 (37)         5               1.1                          1                                                               1                  
  2--5                                                        477 (40)         35              7.3                          7.0 (2.7--18.0)     \<0.0001                                    5.0 (1.8--13.9)    0.002
  [\>]{.ul}6                                                  283 (23)         38              13.4                         13.7 (5.3--35.3)    \<0.0001                                    6.4 (2.1--19.2)    0.001
  Previous travel destinations                                                                                                                                                                                 
  Not Asia                                                    537              31              5.8                          1                                                                                  
  Asia                                                        670 (56)         47              7.0                          1.2 (0.77--2.0)     0.38                                                           
  Not Latin America                                           661              22              3.3                          1                                                               1                  
  Latin America                                               546 (45)         56              10.3                         3.3 (2.0--5.5)      \<0.0001                                    1.6 (0.85--2.9)    0.15
  Not Africa                                                  679              41              6.0                          1                                                                                  
  Africa                                                      528 (48)         37              7.0                          1.2 (0.74--1.9)     0.50                                                           
  Primary purpose of current travel                                                                                                             \<0.0001                                                       0.001
  Tourism                                                     1,032 (86)       52              5.0                          1                                                               1                  
  Work or education                                           99 (8)           8               8.1                          1.7 (0.76--3.6)     0.20                                        1.3 (0.52--3.3)    0.57
  Visit with friends and/or relatives                         76 (6)           18              23.7                         5.8 (3.2--10.6)     \<0.0001                                    4.1 (2.0--8.5)     \<0.0001
  Vaccination status                                                                                                                                                                                           
  Not vaccinated for previous travel                          888 (74)         46              5.2                          1                                                               1                  
  Vaccinated for previous travel                              319 (26)         32              10.0                         2.0 (1.3--3.3)      0.003                                       1.0 (0.56--1.78)   0.99

\*DENV, dengue virus; PR, prevalence rate; PRR, prevalence rate ratio; CI, confidence interval; NA, not applicable; IQR, interquartile range.

###### Characteristics of travelers with serologic evidence of recent dengue virus infection from a cohort of 1,207 persons who traveled from the Netherlands to developing countries, October 1, 2006--September 30, 2007\*

  Traveler no.: age, y/sex   Country of birth   Destination country (region)                                 Previous times traveled to developing country   Travel-related signs and symptoms                                     Dengue-like illness   Vaccinated against yellow fever   IgM-ratio†   IgG-ratio†
  -------------------------- ------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------------------- ------------ ------------
  1: 33/M                    The Netherlands    Philippines (Asia)                                           2--5                                            Fever, myalgia, headache, retro-orbital pain, diarrhea                Yes                   Never                             NA           17.65
  2: 62/M                    Germany            Indonesia (Asia)                                             0                                               Skin rash, diarrhea                                                   No                    Never                             51.79        38.9
  3: 64/M                    The Netherlands    Sri Lanka (Asia)                                             \>10                                            Fever, myalgia, arthralgia, head-ache, retro-orbital pain, diarrhea   Yes                   In 1992                           NA           28.3
  4: 41/M                    The Netherlands    Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines (Asia)             \>10                                            None                                                                  No                    Never                             NA           46.27
  5: 36/F                    The Netherlands    Thailand, Singapore (Asia)                                   6--10                                           Diarrhea                                                              No                    Never                             3.34         NA
  6: 37/F                    The Netherlands    Indonesia (Asia)                                             0                                               Fever, myalgia, headache, retro-orbital pain, skin rash               Yes                   Never                             48.66        142.25
  7: 28/M                    The Netherlands    Vietnam (Asia)                                               2--5                                            None                                                                  No                    Never                             2.78         NA
  8: 27/M                    The Netherlands    India, Nepal (Asia)                                          2--5                                            Diarrhea                                                              No                    Never                             5.11         NA
  9: 68/M                    The Netherlands    Surinam (Latin America)                                      1                                               None                                                                  No                    In 2000                           NA           8.91
  10: 26/F                   The Netherlands    Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chili, Uruguay (Latin America)   0                                               Fever, myalgia, arthralgia, headache, skin rash, diarrhea             Yes                   For this trip                     NA           26.67
  11: 23/F                   The Netherlands    Surinam (Latin America)                                      1                                               Skin rash, diarrhea                                                   No                    For this trip                     NA           72.82
  12: 54/F                   The Netherlands    Gambia (Africa)                                              2--5                                            Fever, myalgia, arthralgia, head-ache, retro-orbital pain, diarrhea   Yes                   For this trip                     NA           26.87
  13: 27/M                   The Netherlands    Mali, Burkina Faso (Africa)                                  2--5                                            Skin rash, diarrhea                                                   No                    In 2000                           18.15        NA
  14: 52/M                   The Netherlands    Madagascar (Africa)                                          6--10                                           Diarrhea                                                              No                    In 1992                           8.82         NA

\*Ig, immunoglobulin; NA, ratio not available. †Posttravel to pretravel. If the posttravel sample test results were negative for a type of anti-DENV, the pretravel serum sample was not tested for that type of antibody.

Twenty-six percent of travelers had received yellow fever vaccination for a previous journey, and 23% received a yellow fever vaccination for the current trip, just after blood donation (not shown in [Table 1](#T1){ref-type="table"}). Only 4 (0.3%) participants had ever received Japanese encephalitis vaccination, all for a previous journey. No one had ever received vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis.

Serologic Results Suggestive for Previous DENV Infection
--------------------------------------------------------

Serologic results suggestive of previous DENV infection were found for 78 (6.5%; 95% CI 5.2%--8.0%) participants ([Table 1](#T1){ref-type="table"}). Previous DENV infection was positively correlated with increasing age. The rate was significantly higher for travelers born in a dengue-endemic country, for those who traveled frequently to dengue-endemic countries (all 78 reported [\>]{.ul}1 previous trips to such a country), and for those whose purpose was to visit friends or relatives. In multivariate analysis, previous DENV infection was not related to yellow fever vaccination for previous travel because it was confounded by previous trips to a developing country. We found no interactions indicating effect modification.

Serology Suggestive of Recent Dengue Infection
----------------------------------------------

Fourteen participants (1.2%; 95% CI 0.66%--1.9%) had recent DENV infection, of whom 5 seroconverted only for IgM; 7 seroconverted only for IgG, with a posttravel-to-pretravel ratio of [\>]{.ul}4:1; and 2 seroconverted for both IgM and IgG ([Table 2](#T2){ref-type="table"}). Thus, the attack rate for recent DENV infection was 1.2% (95% CI 0.66%--1.9%). The incidence rate was 14.6 per 1,000 person-months (95% CI 8.3--23.9) ([Table 3](#T3){ref-type="table"}).

###### Attack rates and incidence rates of seroconversions in antibody levels for dengue virus in 1,207 persons who traveled from the Netherlands to dengue-endemic countries, October 1, 2006--September 30, 2007\*

  Region                          No. (%) persons at risk   No. seroconversions   Person-months of travel   Attack rate, % (95% CI)   Incidence rate, %† (95% CI)
  ------------------------------- ------------------------- --------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------- -----------------------------
  All                             1,207 (100)               14                    959.2                     1.2 (0.66--1.9)           14.6 (8.3--23.9)
  Asia                            569 (47)                  8                     474.3                     1.4 (0.66--2.7)           16.9 (7.8--32.0)
  Southeast Asia                  375 (31)                  6                     324.0                     1.6 (0.82--3.7)           18.5 (9.4--42.7)
  South Asia                      147 (12)                  2                     116.4                     1.4 (0.034--3.3)          17.2 (0.43--42.4)
  East Asia                       98 (8)                    0                     86.2                      0                         0
  Latin America                   340 (28)                  3                     261.3                     0.9 (0.23--2.4)           11.5 (2.9--31.3)
  South America                   219 (18)                  3                     184.5                     1.4 (0.35--3.7)           16.3 (4.1--44.3)
  Central America and Caribbean   135 (11)                  0                     96.0                      0                         0
  Africa                          298 (25)                  3                     223.5                     1.0 (0.26--2.7)           13.4 (3.4--36.5)
  West and Middle Africa          113 (9)                   2                     75.4                      1.8 (0.30--5.7)           26.5 (4.5--87.6)
  East Africa                     140 (12)                  1                     109.4                     0.7 (0.036--3.5)          9.1 (0.46--45.1)
  Southern Africa                 67 (6)                    0                     57.0                      0                         0

\*CI, confidence interval; NA, not applicable. †Per 1,000 person-months.

All 14 persons with recent infection were born in non--dengue-endemic countries; 9 were male, and 11 had traveled previously to a dengue-endemic country ([Table 3](#T3){ref-type="table"}). The median age was 36 years (IQR 27--56 years). The primary purpose of travel was tourism (12 persons) or work/education (2 persons). The median travel duration was 24 days (IQR 19--30).

The incidence rate was significantly higher for travel during the rainy months (23.6 vs. 7.5/1,000 person-months; IRR 3.2, 95% CI 1.01--11.6; p = 0.048). Travel during the rainy months was not related to use of insect repellent containing DEET or use of a mosquito net (odds ratio 1.0; p\>0.05).

The incidence rate appeared to be higher for male travelers (22.3 vs. 9.0; IRR 2.5, 95% CI 0.83--8.2; p = 0.11), persons who traveled for work or education (23.6 vs. 13.7; IRR 1.7, 95% CI 0.26--6.8; p = 0.47), and those who used insect repellent containing DEET \<45% of travel days (18.6 vs. 9.5; IRR 2.0, 95% CI 0.63--7.2; p = 0.26), but differences were not significant. With regard to age, previous travel to a dengue-endemic country, yellow fever vaccination for the current trip, and use of a mosquito net, the IRRs equaled 1.0 (p\>0.05).

Recent DENV infection was positively correlated with fever, retro-orbital pain, myalgia, arthralgia, and skin rash ([Table 4](#T4){ref-type="table"}). Dengue-like illness was reported by 5 (36%; 95% CI 14%--62%) of 14 participants. Evidence for recent DENV infection was 7.3× more prevalent among those with than without dengue-like illness. No traveler reported symptoms signs or suggestive of dengue hemorrhagic fever.

###### Signs and symptoms among travelers with seroconversion in antibody level for dengue virus in 1,207 persons who traveled from the Netherlands to dengue-endemic countries, October 1, 2006--September 30, 2007\*

  Sign or symptom                    Total no.   Recent DENV, no. (PR, %)   PRR (95% CI)      p value
  ---------------------------------- ----------- -------------------------- ----------------- --------------
  Fever, temperature [\>]{.ul}38°C   113         5 (4.4)                    5.6 (1.8--17.0)   **0.002**
  No fever                           1,094       9 (0.8)                    1                 
  Headache                           398         5 (1.3)                    1.1 (0.38--3.4)   0.83
  No headache                        809         9 (1.1)                    1                 
  Retro-orbital pain                 100         4 (4.0)                    4.6 (1.4--14.8)   **0.011**
  No retro-orbital pain              1,107       10 (0.9)                   1                 
  Myalgia                            166         5 (3.0)                    3.6 (1.2--10.8)   **0.024**
  No myalgia                         1,041       9 (0.9)                    1                 
  Arthralgia                         72          3 (4.2)                    4.4 (1.2--16.3)   **0.025**
  No arthralgia                      1,135       11 (1.0)                   1                 
  Rash                               105         5 (4.8)                    6.1 (2.0--18.5)   **0.001**
  No rash                            1,102       9 (0.8)                    1                 
  Diarrhea                           581         10 (1.7)                   2.7 (0.85--8.7)   0.092
  No diarrhea                        626         4 (0.6)                    1                 
  Dengue-like illness†               89          5 (5.6)                    7.3 (2.4--22.4)   **\<0.0001**
  No dengue-like illness             1,118       9 (0.8)                    1                 

\*DENV, dengue virus infection; PR, prevalence rate; PRR, prevalence rate ratio; CI, confidence intervals. **Boldface** indicates significance (p\<0.5). †Fever (temperature [\>]{.ul}38°C) with [\>]{.ul}1 of the following: myalgia, arthralgia, headache, retro-orbital pain, or skin rash.

Discussion
==========

In this prospective study, the serology-based attack rate and incidence rate for recent DENV infection in short-term travelers to areas in which dengue is endemic were substantial: 1.2% and 14.6 per 1,000 person-months, respectively. Although most seroconversions occurred in travelers to Southeast and southern Asia, 3 occurred in travelers to sub-Saharan Africa.

The risk for recent infection was significantly related to travel during the rainy months, as others have reported ([@R10]). The use of insect repellent containing DEET appeared to be protective, although not significantly so. The presence of fever, retro-orbital pain, myalgia, arthralgia, and skin rash all had predictive value for recent infection. Dengue-like illness was the strongest predictor. Nevertheless, 64% of infections were asymptomatic.

For as many as 6.5% of travelers, serology results suggested previous DENV infection. This rate was strongly related to birth in a dengue-endemic country and a history of frequent travel to such countries. Increasing age and the travel purpose of visiting friends or relatives were also predictive for previous DENV infection, as described ([@R5]).

Studies based on febrile travelers returning from the tropics have reported dengue fever in ≈2% of those who sought medical help ([@R12]*,*[@R23]). Some studies have suggested that this proportion has increased in the past 2 decades ([@R3],[@R8]*,*[@R9]*,*[@R24]); others showed no significant increase ([@R25]).

All these studies were retrospective. They were based on persons who sought medical attention after travel and thereby missed persons who never had symptoms, whose symptoms resolved during travel, or who never consulted a doctor. These studies were influenced by referral bias and relied only on posttravel serologic confirmation. They could not compare characteristics between patients and persons who remained well, and the studies lacked valid denominator data to determine absolute risk. Interpreting their findings is therefore difficult.

The best methodologic approach for estimating incidence rates of clinical and subclinical travel-related DENV infections is to follow a cohort of travelers prospectively ([@R26]). We found only 2 such studies. In 1 study, 6.7% of 104 travelers from Israel who spent on average 6.1 months (range 3--16 months) in Southeast Asia, South America, or Africa seroconverted ([@R11]), yielding an incidence rate of 11.0 per 1,000 person-months. This incidence rate is comparable to the rate found in our study, although our study differed in travelers' destination and duration of exposure and in test characteristics.

In the other prospective study, performed during 1991--1992, the seroconversion rate for 447 travelers from the Netherlands who spent a median of 4 weeks in Asia was 3.6%, resulting in an incidence rate of 36.9 per 1,000 person-months ([@R10]). In our study, the seroconversion and incidence rates in travelers to Southeast Asia were lower: 1.6% and 18.5 per 1,000 person-months, respectively. Our different findings may reflect different test characteristics and differences in exposure and risk behavior related to factors such as travel destination, year of exposure, and measures taken to prevent mosquito bites.

The incidence rate for persons in our study who traveled to sub-Saharan Africa appeared to be substantial (13.4/1,000 person-months), although the 95% CI was wide (3.4--36.5), and cross-reactions with other flaviviruses or previous yellow fever vaccination cannot be excluded. However, cross-reactions with yellow fever vaccination are unlikely because the travelers to Africa who seroconverted for anti-DENV either did not receive a yellow fever vaccination during the study period (2 travelers) or had dengue-like illness (1) ([Table 3](#T3){ref-type="table"}). These travelers visited Senegal and the Gambia, Mali and Burkina Faso, and Madagascar. All these countries reported dengue cases during the study period ([@R14]*,*[@R27]*,*[@R28]). According to data from the GeoSentinel Network ([@R12]) and the TropNetEurope Network ([@R5]), only a small proportion (5%--8%) of clinical dengue cases in travelers are acquired in Africa. However, distributions yielded by these data reflect not only global dengue activity but also the popularity of tourist destinations and physicians' expectations about dengue endemicity and their inclination to test for the disease. Dengue endemicity in Africa may have changed, and the risk for travelers may thus be higher than expected ([@R27]). More studies are needed.

The ratio of apparent to unapparent infection in our study was 1:1.8. The 2 other prospective studies reported ratios of 1:0.75 ([@R11]) and 1:3 ([@R10]). Variations in these ratios may reflect variation in strain virulence, the influence of initial viral load, or host factors such as susceptibility.

Our study has some limitations. First, our sample size was too small to yield a precise estimate of disease incidence per region or per destination. For example, travelers to Southeast Asia are considered to be at higher risk than travelers to other regions ([@R5]*,*[@R12]). This finding could not be confirmed in our study. Second, selection bias may have occurred. Although participants in our study are comparable to the average traveler ([@R29]), they were all seeking pretravel health advice. Thus, they perhaps had a higher than average health awareness, particularly after receiving oral and written travel advice, learning about the study, and agreeing to participate. Nevertheless, their average use of insect repellent containing DEET was only 45% of travel days, and 17% of participants used no repellent at all. Third, the risk for travel-related DENV infection also can depend on endemicity and on outbreaks in a particular country during a particular time of travel. Also, among travelers, DENV transmission has annual oscillations ([@R12]*,*[@R30]). Furthermore, sometimes epidemics occur in tourist areas, other times in areas never reached by tourists. Although 2006--2007 were not years with high endemicity for most dengue-endemic countries, the exact contribution of these factors on our findings is unknown.

A final limitation is that, although the serologic tests used are highly sensitive and specific, false-negative and false-positive test results may have occurred. For example, 7 travelers seroconverted only for anti-DENV IgG and not for anti-DENV IgM. Although this may be because of false-positive IgG or false-negative IgM test results, these results may also suggest secondary infection. Unfortunately, no test characteristics are available that apply exactly to our study design; the best available test characteristics are probably those from studies that used paired serum samples ([@R6]*,*[@R17]*,*[@R18]*,*[@R20]). With test specificity of [\<]{.ul}96%, [\>]{.ul}4% of positive samples actually give false-positive results. Subclinical infections with flaviviruses other than DENV may account for some of the seroconversions ([@R31]). Also, cross-reactions can affect the interpretation of test results in travelers who have received a flavivirus vaccine. In 1 study, 2 (15%) of 13 persons vaccinated against yellow fever had positive test results for DENV-IgG 1--2 months after the vaccination ([@R31]). In our study, however, recent and previous DENV infections were not related to yellow fever vaccination. False-positive test results can also occur just by chance. Because the serologic tests used were validated in a clinical environment among patients suspected to have dengue, their positive predictive value will be lower when applied as a screening tool in a more general sample of travelers in which disease occurrence is lower.

Unfortunately, no true standard exists for confirming or ruling out DENV infections. Even a plaque-reduction neutralization test can cross-react ([@R32]), and PCR is useful only in the very early stage of dengue disease ([@R33]).

In conclusion, although valid data regarding the actual frequency of DENV infection in international travelers is elusive, our prospective study confirms that the incidence rate for recent DENV infection in short-term travelers to areas in which dengue is endemic is substantial. We found no differences in incidence rate compared with other serology-based prospective cohort studies performed in the 1990s. Thus, the increase in annually reported dengue cases from network studies is possibly related to the increase in international travel and the expansion of DENV and its vector to new areas rather than to an increase in DENV transmission. Until an effective and safe vaccine that provides effective, long-term immunity against all 4 serotypes of DENV has been developed, the only useful preventive measure for travelers to areas where dengue is endemic is to avoid mosquito bites, particularly during the rainy season.

*Suggested citation for this article:* Baaten GGG, Sonder GJB, Zaaijer HL, van Gool T, Kint JAPCM, van den Hoek A. Travel-related dengue virus infection, the Netherlands, 2006--2007. Emerg Infect Dis \[serial on the Internet\]. 2011 May \[*date cited*\]. <http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid1705.101125>

We thank the nurses and medical doctors of the Public Health Service Amsterdam for their assistance in participant inclusion and data collection; Henk Gilis, Henk Hofwegen, and Jorn Smit for serologic testing; Floor Elfrink and Bart Maertzdorf for facilitating data management; Roel Coutinho and Marion Koopmans for their critical review of the manuscript; and Lucy D. Phillips for editorial review.

This study was financially supported by grant 7115 0001 from ZonMw, the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development.

Mr Baaten works in infectious diseases control and travel medicine at the Public Health Service Amsterdam and the National Coordination Centre for Traveller's Health Advice, the Netherlands. His primary research interest is the epidemiology of travel-related infectious diseases.
