Surge in dengue is a viral disease that is transmitted by the bite of a female mosquito named Aedes Aegypti, which is already infected by the virus. Aedes aegypti is a daytime feeder and the peak biting periods are early in the morning and in the evening before dusk.
The virus responsible for causing dengue is called dengue virus (DENV). There are four DENV serotypes (DENV-1, -2, -3, and -4). Infection with one serotype of DENV provides immunity to that serotype for life but provides no long-term immunity to other serotypes. Thus, a person can be infected as many as four times, once with each serotype.
Surge in dengue infection usually develops five to six days after being bitten by the mosquito. Dengue causes a wide spectrum of diseases, which can range from subclinical disease (people may not know that they are infected) to severe flu-like symptoms. Though less common, some people develop severe dengue or Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF), which is the leading cause of serious illness and death.
According to a recent update by the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) each year, up to 400 million people get infected with dengue and approximately 100 million people get sick due to infection, and 40,000 die from severe dengue. The risk of dengue infection exists in 129 countries, however, 70 percent of the actual burden is in Asia. According to National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as of September 2021, a total of 60,112 cases of dengue were reported in India.
