Letter of Invite

Division of Public Health Services
Office of the Assistant Director
Public Health Preparedness Services
150 N. 18th Avenue, Suite XXX
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
(602) 364-3587
(602) 364-3199 FAX
Internet: www.azdhs.gov

JANICE K. BREWER, GOVERNOR
WILL HUMBLE, DIRECTOR

December 12, 2014
Tyler Sharp, PhD
Acting Epidemiology Team Lead, Dengue Branch
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Dear Dr. Sharp,
Since September 2014, there has been a large increase of 67 imported dengue cases in Arizona
associated with travel to Mexico as well as reports of dramatic increases of dengue in northern
Sonora Mexico along the Arizona Sonora, Mexico border, the Arizona Department of Health
Services (ADHS). A health alert was sent to providers on October 27th and Yuma County Health
Department is using CDC Dengue educational materials as well as educational material from
Sonora Mexico to increase local awareness among providers and the public.
The Arizona Department of Health Services requests assistance from CDC to determine if there
has been local transmission of dengue, assist with provider education, and determine the risk of
ongoing dengue transmission.
Conduct an investigation to:
1. Conduct retrospective case finding among patients with dengue-like illness
2. Perform household-based cluster investigations around the homes of travel associated
and/or locally acquired dengue cases to identify unreported cases and individuals with
asymptomatic infection using questionnaires to gather epidemiologic and behavioral data,
serologic testing, and entomologic surveillance
3. Conduct a least one dengue clinical training for healthcare workers and providers
4. Consult on educational strategies to increase public prevention activities
5. Examine serologic evidence of mosquito exposure among those household members or
neighbors of reported dengue cases
This investigation will provide valuable evidence to inform the present response and future
prevention efforts of both Yuma County Health Department and ADHS to possible introduction
of dengue in Arizona.
Sincerely,

Kenneth Komatsu
State Epidemiologist
Office Chief – Infectious Disease Services
Diana Gomez, Director, Yuma County Health Department
Health and Wellness for all Arizonans