Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus.Symptoms typically begin three to fourteen days after infection.This may include a high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash.Recovery generally takes two to seven days.In a small proportion of cases, the disease develops into the life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever, resulting in bleeding, low levels of blood platelets and blood plasma leakage, or into dengue shock syndrome, where dangerously low blood pressure occurs

Dengue is spread by several species of mosquito of the Aedes type, principally A. aegypti. The virus has five different types; infection with one type usually gives lifelong immunity to that type, but only short-term immunity to the others.Subsequent infection with a different type increases the risk of severe complications.A number of tests are available to confirm the diagnosis including detecting antibodies to the virus or its RNA.

Dengue has become a global problem since the Second World War and is common in more than 110 countries.Each year between 50 and 528 million people are infected and approximately 10,000 to 20,000 die.The earliest descriptions of an outbreak date from 1779.Its viral cause and spread were understood by the early 20th century.Apart from eliminating the mosquitoes, work is ongoing for medication targeted directly at the virus.It is classified as a neglected tropical disease.

Typically, people infected with dengue virus are asymptomatic (80%) or have only mild symptoms such as an uncomplicated fever.Others have more severe illness (5%), and in a small proportion it is life-threatening.The incubation period (time between exposure and onset of symptoms) ranges from 3 to 14 days, but most often it is 4 to 7 days.Therefore, travelers returning from endemic areas are unlikely to have dengue if fever or other symptoms start more than 14 days after arriving home.Children often experience symptoms similar to those of the common cold and gastroenteritis (vomiting and diarrhea)[19] and have a greater risk of severe complications,though initial symptoms are generally mild but include high fever.

Dengue fever virus (DENV) is an RNA virus of the family Flaviviridae; genus Flavivirus. Other members of the same genus include yellow fever virus, West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, Kyasanur forest disease virus, and Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus. Most are transmitted by arthropods(mosquitoes or ticks), and are therefore also referred to as arboviruses (arthropod-borne viruses).

International Anti-Dengue Day is observed every year on 15 June.The idea was first agreed upon in 2010 with the first event held in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2011.Further events were held in 2012 in Yangon, Myanmar and in 2013 in Vietnam.Goals are to increase public awareness about dengue, mobilize resources for its prevention and control and, to demonstrate the Asian region's commitment in tackling the disease.