Dengue Outbreaks in Sudan: Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics, Serotype Distribution, and Public Health Response.

This scoping review aims to systematically identify, map, and synthesise the breadth of primary research evidence on dengue fever within Sudan from 2000 to 2026. Dengue has emerged as a significant public health concern in Sudan, with recurrent outbreaks, serotype circulation, and gaps in surveillance and response capacity. Despite this, the exisiting evidence remains fragmented across epidmeiological studies, outbreak investigations, clinical reports, laboratory analyses, and public health documents. No comprehensive evidence map currently exists for Sudan. This review will examine five core concepts: 1. epidemiology: outbreak timelines, incidence, attack rates, mortality patterns, geographic distrbution, and transmission settings. 2. clinical characteristics: symtpom,s severity classications (DF,DHF,DSS), complications, hospitalisation patterns, and clinical outcomes. 3. DENV serotypes: identification, circulation patterns, co-circulation, and genotype information where available. 4. Vector ecology (linked to dengue transmission): Aedes species distribution, entomological indices, seasonal abundance, and vector-dengue transmission relationships. 5. Public health response: surveillance systems, outbreak investigation methods, vector control interventions, and operational response strategies. Expected outcomes: - comprehensive evidence map of dengue research in Sudan - identification of geographic, methodological, and conceptual gaps in the literature. - a descriptive synthesis of epidemiological trends, serotype circulation, clinical severity patterns, vector ecology, and public health response capacity. - a PRISMA-ScR manuscript prepared for submission to a peer-reviewed journal.