Emerging Dengue Risk in Low-Incidence Rural Areas: A Case Report Highlighting Outbreak Preparedness Needs

Abstract Due to changing epidemiological patterns and shifting spatial distribution, a substantial number of dengue cases have been reported from rural regions of Bangladesh in recent years; however, this has been less extensively emphasized in the available literature. This case study reports a 30-year-old female with non-hemorrhagic dengue fever residing in the rural area of Sylhet district with a recent travel history to Dhaka city. This patient presented with a history of continuous fever for five days with retro-orbital pain, photophobia and itching with other unremarkable clinical findings. Hematological investigation revealed mild anemia with thrombocytopenia and the immunological report showed a positive result for IgM. Symptomatic management was provided to the patient with advice for adequate fluid intake. Regular monitoring of vital signs was ensured and no systematic complication was detected in subsequent visits. This case study denotes the necessity of planning comprehensive public health interventions for areas with low caseloads to mitigate impending outbreaks in the near future.