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Which microbe causes Dengue?

  • Dengue is a disease caused by dengue virus

    • The virus transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female mosquitoes (Aedes mosquito) while getting blood meal from infected people.

    • Virus Transmission from a pregnant mother to her baby is possible but the risk is low.

    • In rare cases, transmission happens through blood transfusion or organ donation.

 

What are the symptoms of Dengue?

    • Most people with dengue virus infection have no symptoms or have mild symptoms.

    • The symptoms usually start within 4-10 days after a bite from an infected mosquito.

      • The symptoms usually last 2 to 7 days.

  • *The most common dengue symptoms according to WHO are:

    • Fever (40°C/104°F)

    • Severe headache

    • Pain behind the eyes

    • Muscle and joint pains

    • Nausea, vomiting

    • Skin rash

 

What are the complications from dengue virus infection?

  • People who are infected for the second time with dengue virus have a higher risk of showing the symptoms of severe dengue.

  • *Severe dengue symptoms often come after the fever has subsided. They include:

    • Severe abdominal pain

    • Persistent vomiting

    • Blood in the vomit or stool

    • Being very thirsty

    • Feeling tired

    • Feeling weak.

    • Feeling restlessness

    • Experiencing rapid breathing

    • Bleeding from gums or nose

    • Having a pale and cold skin 

 

Which treatments are available for Dengue?

  • There is no treatment for dengue. However, the symptoms of dengue fever can be treated at home with pain medication.

 

How to prevent Dengue?

  • The mosquitoes that spread dengue are most active during the day. They bite their host to take a blood meal rich in nutrients for their developing eggs. However, they will bite at night as well in areas with lighting. 

  • *To reduce the risks of getting dengue via mosquito bites, protect yourself with the following:

    • clothes that cover much of the body 

    • Sleep under a mosquito net if possible, ideally nets sprayed with an insect repellent.

    • Protect your house/rooms with window screens

  • You can also reduce the risks of getting dengue by preventing mosquito breeding as well as accessing egg-laying habitats. Below are some of the strategies*:​

    • Disposing of solid waste properly and removing artificial man-made habitats that can hold water

    • Covering, emptying and cleaning domestic water storage containers regularly

    • Applying appropriate insecticides to outdoor water storage containers.

    • ​

  • **Currently, only one vaccine is available for dengue prevention. 

    • WHO recommends the vaccine Q-denga® (TAK-003) in children 6–16 years old in areas with high incidence of dengue infection.

 

*Dengue and Severe Dengue. Health topics. World Health Organization; [2024]. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.

** Vaccines and immunization: Dengue. Health topics. World Health Organization; [2025]. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.

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