Dengue Fever Transmission

Dengue fever is a common viral infection that is carried and spread by the mosquito. Specifically, the female Aedes aegypti mosquito becomes a vector or carrier of the virus when it bites an infected human. This infected mosquito goes on to bite another human, and the cycle continues.

The mosquito picks up the virus as part of its blood meal when it feeds on human blood. Only the female bites and feeds on blood, which she needs to mature her eggs. This virus stays in the mosguito’s gut for a up to ten days, after which point the insect is capable of spreading the infection to any other human it bites and feeds on.

In this way, infected humans act as viral reservoirs, with the mosquito picking up the infection from humans and spreading it to uninfected individuals. The virus circulates in the bloodstream of humans for a period of two to seven days, which is when the mosquito may acquire the virus through feeding. During this period, symptoms of the infection such as fever begin to appear.

Unlike, the mosquitoes that carry malaria which tend to bite between 9pm and 5am, the Aedes aegypti mosquito mainly feeds during the day. These mosquitoes breed near water and lay their eggs in the walls of water containers so the insects are commonly found near water cisterns, unsealed septic tanks, decorative fountains, discarded tyres and bottles or boats and other vehicles that may collect water while stationary.

There are four different strains of the dengue virus and infection with a single strain ensures life-long protection against that strain only, so it is still possible to be infected by a different strain.

Further Reading

Last Updated: Jul 17, 2023

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Written by

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Dr. Ananya Mandal is a doctor by profession, lecturer by vocation and a medical writer by passion. She specialized in Clinical Pharmacology after her bachelor's (MBBS). For her, health communication is not just writing complicated reviews for professionals but making medical knowledge understandable and available to the general public as well.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Mandal, Ananya. (2023, July 17). Dengue Fever Transmission. News-Medical. Retrieved on November 04, 2024 from https://www.news-medical.net/health/Dengue-Fever-Transmission.aspx.

  • MLA

    Mandal, Ananya. "Dengue Fever Transmission". News-Medical. 04 November 2024. <https://www.news-medical.net/health/Dengue-Fever-Transmission.aspx>.

  • Chicago

    Mandal, Ananya. "Dengue Fever Transmission". News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/health/Dengue-Fever-Transmission.aspx. (accessed November 04, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Mandal, Ananya. 2023. Dengue Fever Transmission. News-Medical, viewed 04 November 2024, https://www.news-medical.net/health/Dengue-Fever-Transmission.aspx.

Comments

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
Post a new comment
Post

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.

You might also like...
Newsom boosted California’s public health budget during covid. Now he wants to cut it.