Dengue Viruses and Other Arboviruses in French Guiana

There is no proof that yellow fever occured in French Guiana before 1763. The first repcrt of “vomito negro” appears during the Kourou expedition in 1763. From 1763 to 1888, yellow fever was reported repeatedly. Epidemics were observed in 1765, 1793-1796, 1802, 1850, 1855 (with 27.2% mortality), 18731874, 1876, 1877, 1885. In 1902 an epidemic started in St-Jean-du-Maroni and reached Cayenne in a few months: 471 cases were recorded with 139 deaths. It seems to have been an Aedes aegypti transmitted epidemic. Since 1902, no yellow fever case has been reported. In 1966, virology become an important part of the activities of the Institut Pasteur. The U7 9 INSERM Group (Research on arbovirus diseases) was established in 1968. Investigations were carried out on yellow fever and several viruses were found, some already known, some previously unknown. The U7 9 INSERM Group ended in 1979. Since then work has been concentrated on dengue fever surveillance.