Dengue Fever: Causes

Pathogenesis (development of disease)

Dengue virus is one of the flaviviruses (single-stranded RNA viruses). Four serotypes can be distinguished (DEN-1 to DEN-4). Dengue viruses are transmitted by mosquitoes, especially Aedes aegypti, Aedes scutelaris and Aedes albopictus/Stegomyia albopicta/Asian tiger mosquito. The Asian tiger mosquito is a striking black and white patterned mosquito between two and ten millimeters in size.

If one has been bitten by an infected mosquito, the virus first attacks dendritic cells. From there, it spreads throughout the body.

Etiology (causes)

Behavioral causes

  • Bite of the mosquito