Overview

Overview

Dengue Epidemiology

The first record of a case of probable dengue fever is in a Chinese medical encyclopedia from the Jin Dynasty (265–420 AD), which refers to a “water poison” associated with flying insects. The first recognized Dengue epidemics occurred almost simultaneously in Asia, Africa, and North America in the 1780s, shortly after identifying and naming the disease in 1779. The first confirmed case report dates from 1789 and is by Benjamin Rush, who coined the term “breakbone fever” […]

Overview, Transmission

Life Cycle of Aedes aegypti

Aedes aegypti is a so-called holometabolous insect. This means that the insects undergo a complete metamorphosis with an egg, larvae, pupae, and adult stage. Depending on environmental conditions, the adult life span can range from two weeks to a month. The life cycle of Aedes aegypti can be completed within one-and-a-half to three weeks (see Figure 1). Egg After taking a blood meal, female Aedes aegypti mosquitos produce, on average, 100 to 200 eggs per batch. The females can produce

Overview

Aedes aegypti

The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, can spread dengue fever, Chikungunya yellow fever viruses, and other diseases. It is a tiny, dark mosquito approximately 4 to 7 millimeters long, with typical white markings on the legs and a marking in the form of a lyre on the thorax. Females are more significant and can be distinguished by small palps tipped with silver or white scales. Aedes aegypti is a day-biting mosquito. That means the mosquito is most active during daylight,

Overview

Aedes albopictus

The Asian tiger mosquito or forest day mosquito Aedes albopictus is characterized by its black and white striped legs and small black and white body (see Figure 1). It is native to the tropical and subtropical areas of Southeast Asia; however, in the past couple of decades, this species has invaded many countries worldwide through transporting goods and increasing international travel. This mosquito has become a significant pest in many communities because it is closely associated with

Overview

History of Dengue

The origins of the word dengue are unclear, but one theory is that it is derived from the Swahili phrase “K”-denga pepo,” “meaning “c “amp-like seizure caused by an evil spirit.”.” The Swahili word “d” nga” “ay possibly has its origin in the Spanish word “d” ngue” “meaning fastidious or careful, which would describe the gait of a person suffering the bone pain of dengue fever. Alternatively, the use of the Spanish word may derive from

Overview

Dengue Virus

Dengue is caused by Dengue virus (DENV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus. DENV is a single-stranded RNA positive-strand virus of the Flaviviridaegenus Flavivirus. This genus also includes the West Nile virus, Tick-borne Encephalitis Virus, Yellow Fever Virus, and other viruses that may cause encephalitis. DENV causes a wide range of diseases in humans, from self-limited Dengue Fever (DF) to a life-threatening syndrome called Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) or Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS). There are four antigenically different

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