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- Dengue is on the march. This year, more than 4.2 million cases of the disease, which is caused by a virus transmitted by mosquitoes, had been reported by 2 October, compared with half a million in 2000. And the disease, which was once confined to the tropics, is spreading to new locations around the world, including southern Europe.
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Why are so many people getting dengue?
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What happens if you get sick with dengue?
Apr 12, 2024 · Who is at risk of severe dengue infections? There are four known serotypes, or strains, of the dengue virus.
- Laura Santhanam
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Diagnostics and Treatment
- Global Burden
- Transmission
- Risk Factors
- Prevention and Control
- Who Response
Dengue (break-bone fever) is a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes to people. It is more common in tropical and subtropical climates. Most people who get dengue won’t have symptoms. But for those that do, the most common symptoms are high fever, headache, body aches, nausea and rash. Most will also get better in 1–2 weeks. Some people deve...
Most people with dengue have mild or no symptoms and will get better in 1–2 weeks. Rarely, dengue can be severe and lead to death. If symptoms occur, they usually begin 4–10 days after infection and last for 2–7 days. Symptoms may include: 1. high fever (40°C/104°F) 2. severe headache 3. pain behind the eyes 4. muscle and joint pains 5. nausea 6. v...
Most cases of dengue fever can be treated at home with pain medicine. Preventing mosquito bites is the best way to avoid getting dengue. There is no specific treatment for dengue. The focus is on treating pain symptoms. Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is often used to control pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin are av...
The incidence of dengue has grown dramatically around the world in recent decades, with cases reported to WHO increased from 505 430 cases in 2000 to 5.2 million in 2019. A vast majority of cases are asymptomatic or mild and self-managed, and hence the actual numbers of dengue cases are under-reported. Many cases are also misdiagnosed as other febr...
Transmission through the mosquito bite
The virus is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female mosquitoes, primarily the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Other species within the Aedes genus can also act as vectors, but their contribution is secondary to Aedes aegypti. After feeding on a DENV-infected person, the virus replicates in the mosquito midgut before disseminating to secondary tissues, including the salivary glands. The time it takes from ingesting the virus to actual transmission to a new host is termed the extrin...
Human-to-mosquito transmission
Mosquitoes can become infected by people who are viremic with DENV. This can be someone who has a symptomatic dengue infection, someone who is yet to have a symptomatic infection (they are pre-symptomatic), but also people who show no signs of illness as well (they are asymptomatic). Human-to-mosquito transmission can occur up to 2 days before someone shows symptoms of the illness, and up to 2 days after the fever has resolved. The risk of mosquito infection is positively associated with high...
Maternal transmission
The primary mode of transmission of DENV between humans involves mosquito vectors. There is evidence however, of the possibility of maternal transmission (from a pregnant mother to her baby). At the same time, vertical transmission rates appear low, with the risk of vertical transmission seemingly linked to the timing of the dengue infection during the pregnancy. When a mother does have a DENV infection when she is pregnant, babies may suffer from pre-term birth, low birthweight, and fetal di...
Previous infection with DENV increases the risk of the individual developing severe dengue. Urbanization (especially unplanned), is associated with dengue transmission through multiple social and environmental factors: population density, human mobility, access to reliable water source, water storage practice etc. Community’s risks to dengue also d...
The mosquitoes that spread dengue are active during the day. Lower the risk of getting dengue by protecting yourself from mosquito bites by using: 1. clothes that cover as much of your body as possible 2. mosquito nets if sleeping during the day, ideally nets sprayed with insect repellent 3. window screens 4. mosquito repellents (containing DEET, P...
WHO responds to dengue in the following ways: 1. supports countries in the confirmation of outbreaks through its collaborating network of laboratories; 2. provides technical support and guidance to countries for the effective management of dengue outbreaks; 3. supports countries in improving their reporting systems and capture the true burden of th...
Dec 21, 2023 · In the WHO Southeast Asia region, 10 out of 11 Member States are known to be endemic for dengue virus. In 2023, several countries, including Bangladesh and Thailand, have reported a notable surge in dengue cases compared to previous years.
Oct 24, 2023 · Dengue, a viral fever, is transmitted by Aedes species of mosquitoes. It can cause excruciating joint pain; is also known by the grim nickname “breakbone fever.” The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which...
Jul 19, 2023 · Dengue is the arbovirus that causes the highest number of cases in the Region of the Americas, with epidemics occurring cyclically every 3 to 5 years. During the first half of 2023, dengue outbreaks of significant magnitude were recorded in South America.
Apr 27, 2024 · Another concern that makes some people uneasy is the effects of the vaccine on the different types of dengue virus. There are four in circulation (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4), and the vaccine does not respond in the same way to all of them. “There is an unknown here,” acknowledges virologist Adrián Díaz, a researcher at Argentina ...
Aug 15, 2023 · Español (Spanish) Print. Dengue. What is Dengue? Dengue viruses are spread to people through the bite of an infected Aedes species ( Ae. aegypti or Ae. albopictus) mosquito. Almost half of the world’s population, about 4 billion people, live in areas with a risk of dengue. Dengue is often a leading cause of illness in areas with risk.
