Dengue Fever
- arthuroslund2
- Sep 21
- 2 min read
Important to know
Dengue is not spread from person to person, only through the bites of infected mosquitoes.
A mosquito must bite an infected person first to become infected and capable of transmitting the virus to someone else.
The virus can be circulating in a person's blood for about a week after being bitten.
Dengue
The chance of getting dengue from a single mosquito bite is low, with one study showing a home-based infection chance of about 2.2%. However, your risk increases significantly in areas where dengue is endemic, with millions of cases occurring worldwide annually. The chance of getting dengue is higher in high-risk locations, with one source citing a 1% monthly chance in these areas. You are more likely to be infected if you are bitten by an Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquito that has previously bitten an infected person.
Key factors influencing your risk
Mosquito and virus presence:
The primary risk comes from a bite by an infected mosquito.
Location:
Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical regions, and risk increases in endemic areas.
Local transmission:
Outbreaks and local spread of dengue occur when infected people bring the virus to areas with the right mosquito populations, increasing the chance of transmission to others.
Mosquito activity:
High humidity and temperature can increase mosquito survival rates and, therefore, transmission.
Previous infections:
You can get dengue more than once, and prior infections increase your risk of severe dengue.
How to protect yourself
Avoid mosquito bites: Wear protective clothing and use mosquito repellent.
Use mosquito nets: Use nets when sleeping, especially in high-risk areas.
Dump standing water: Eliminating breeding grounds, like containers with standing water, reduces mosquito populations.
Travel advisories: Pay attention to CDC travel notices for high-risk countries.
References
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