Dengue virus
Dengue Virus
The Dengue Virus (DEN-vy-rus, from the Spanish word dengue meaning fastidious or careful) is a type of Arbovirus that causes Dengue Fever, a mosquito-borne tropical disease. It is a member of the Flaviviridae family, which also includes other significant human pathogens such as the Zika Virus, West Nile Virus, and Yellow Fever Virus.
Etymology
The term "Dengue" is derived from the Swahili phrase Ka-dinga pepo, which describes the disease as being caused by an evil spirit. During a 1780 outbreak in Cuba, the term was hispanicized to "dengue".
Classification
The Dengue Virus is a single positive-stranded RNA virus of the family Flaviviridae; genus Flavivirus. Four distinct serotypes of the virus have been identified and are referred to as DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4.
Transmission
The Dengue Virus is primarily transmitted through the bite of an infected female Aedes aegypti mosquito. It can also be transmitted via Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, blood transfusion, organ transplantation, and from mother to child during pregnancy.
Symptoms
Infection with the Dengue Virus can be asymptomatic or it can lead to diseases of varying severity, from the self-limited Dengue Fever to the life-threatening Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever and Dengue Shock Syndrome.
Prevention and Control
Prevention and control of Dengue Virus infection primarily involves controlling the mosquito vectors or interruption of human–vector contact. Vaccines for the Dengue Virus are available and have been introduced in some dengue-endemic regions.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Dengue virus
- Wikipedia's article - Dengue virus
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