Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, VOLUME 121 | 2026
Research Articles

Molecular epidemiology of large dengue serotypes outbreak from Peru, 2023

Orson Mestanza1,+, Wendy Lizarraga1, Princesa Medrano1, María P García2, Susy Merino2, Iris S Molina1, Nieves Sevilla1, Veronica Hurtado1, Luis Barcena-Flores1, Vanesa Izarra-Rojas1, Karla Vásquez-Cajachahua1, Alicia Nuñez-Llanos1, Carlos Padilla-Rojas1, Henri Bailon1, Marco Galarza-Perez1, Dana Figueroa2, Adolfo Marcelo2, Victor Jimenez-Vasquez1

1National Centre for Public Health, National Institute of Health, Area of Innovation and Development, Lima, Peru
2National Centre for Public Health, National Institute of Health, National Metaxenic and Viral Zoonoses Reference Laboratory, Lima, Peru

DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760250204
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ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND Dengue has long been considered a neglected disease since its emergence. However, in recent years, the number of cases has increased significantly, particularly in tropical countries across Latin America.
OBJECTIVE This study aims to describe the evolution of dengue during the 2023 outbreak in Peru.
METHODS Here, we describe the analysis of 245 positive samples for dengue carried out by the National Institute of Health (INS) of Peru through genomic surveillance protocols, and analyse the evolution of serotypes and genotypes during the outbreak.
FINDINGS We analysed 245 dengue-positive samples sequenced by the INS of Peru during the 2023 outbreak to describe the evolutionary dynamics of circulating serotypes. We identified dengue virus (DENV)-1 genotype V (lineages D.1 and D.2), DENV-2 genotype II (Cosmopolitan, lineage F.1.2), and DENV-3 genotype III (lineage B.3). Phylogenetic and population-structure analyses revealed multiple introductions, rapid diversification, and wide dispersal of DENV-1 and DENV-2 across Peru, while DENV-3III showed a localised introduction in Lima with phylogenetic links to the Caribbean. Our findings provide the most comprehensive genomic characterisation to date of dengue circulation in Peru in 2023 year, and highlight the need for sustained genomic surveillance.
MAIN CONCLUSION To summarise, the three serotypes of dengue in Peru show a dynamic diversity that becomes necessary to understand, to improve public health decisions by authorities.

key words: dengue virus genotypes whole genome sequencing 2023 outbreak Peru
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Financial support: This research has used financial resources from the Government of Peru through the budget allocated to the Ministry of Health and the National Institute of Health.
+ Corresponding author: omestanza@ins.gob.pe | ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7268-0496
Received 07 August 2025
Accepted 27 February 2026

HOW TO CITE
Mestanza O, Lizarraga W, Medrano P, García MP, Merino S, Molina IS, et al. Molecular epidemiology of large dengue serotypes outbreak from Peru, 2023. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2026; 121: e250204.

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