- Dengue fever is a tropical disease that is borne by mosquitoes. It is caused by the dengue virus.
- Dengue is spread by several species of female mosquitoes of the Aedes variety, specifically of the A.aegypti.
- The ideal conditions for this species of mosquitos are usually between the latitudes of 35° North and 35° South with an elevation of 1000 metres (3300 ft).
- Even though humans are the primary host of the virus, non-human primates are also carriers.
- A single bite is more than enough to be a cause for infection.
- A female mosquito that bites a person infected person with dengue becomes itself infected during the initial 2-10 day febrile period.
- After 8 – 10 days, the virus spreads to other tissues including the mosquitoes salivary glands and is subsequently released into its saliva. As per the research conducted on this species, the mosquito remains infected.