What is Dengue?
Dengue viruses are spread to people through the bite of an infected Aedes species (Ae. aegypti or Ae. albopictus) mosquito. Almost half of the world’s population, about 4 billion people, live in areas with a risk of dengue. Dengue is often a leading cause of illness in areas with risk.
New Dengue Vaccine
A new dengue vaccines is now recommended for U.S. territories and freely associated states. The vaccine is approved for use in children aged 9 to 16 years with laboratory-confirmed previous dengue virus infection and living in areas where dengue is endemic (common). The vaccine is not approved for use in U.S. travelers who are visiting but not living in an area where dengue is common.
About Dengue: What You Need to Know
Dengue viruses are spread to people through the bite of an infected Aedes species (Ae. aegypti or Ae. albopictus) mosquito. These mosquitoes also spread Zika, chikungunya, and other viruses.
Almost half of the world’s population, about 4 billion people, live in areas with a risk of dengue. Dengue is often a leading cause of illness in areas with risk.
Each year, up to 400 million people get infected with dengue. Approximately 100 million people get sick from infection, and 40,000 die from severe dengue.
Dengue is caused by one of any of four related viruses: Dengue virus 1, 2, 3, and 4. For this reason, a person can be infected with a dengue virus as many as four times in his or her lifetime
Symptoms and Treatment
Key Facts
1 in 4: About one in four people infected with dengue will get sick.
For people who get sick with dengue, symptoms can be mild or severe.
Severe dengue can be life-threatening within a few hours and often requires care at a hospital.
Symptoms
Mild symptoms of dengue can be confused with other illnesses that cause fever, aches and pains, or a rash.
The most common symptom of dengue is fever with any of the following:
Nausea, vomiting
Rash
Aches and pains (eye pain, typically behind the eyes, muscle, joint, or bone pain)
Any warning sign
Symptoms of dengue typically last 2–7 days. Most people will recover after about a week.
Treatment
There is no specific medicine to treat dengue.
Treat the symptoms of dengue and see your healthcare provider.
Testing
See your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of dengue and live in or have recently traveled to an area with risk of dengue.
If you have recently traveled to an area with risk of dengue, tell your healthcare provider.
A blood test is the only way to confirm the diagnosis.
Your healthcare provider may order blood tests to look for dengue or other similar viruses like Zika or chikungunya.
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