How is dengue mosquito different from other mosquitoes?

They usually bite you on the ankles and elbows. The only way to differentiate between a dengue mosquito bite and a normal mosquito bite is that that a dengue mosquito bite is much redder and itchy compared to a normal mosquito bite.

Why does only Aedes mosquito spread dengue?

These mosquitoes live near humans in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Female Aedes aegypti become dengue vectors after feeding on the blood of a person infected with the dengue virus. Infected mosquitoes continue to transmit dengue with each blood meal for the rest of their lives.

Can other mosquitoes spread dengue?

Dengue viruses are spread to people through the bites of infected Aedes species mosquitoes (Ae. aegypti or Ae. albopictus). These are the same types of mosquitoes that spread Zika and chikungunya viruses.

Are all Aedes mosquitoes carry dengue?

Foremost, you need to bust the dengue myth that every mosquito bite will cause dengue. Only the female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes can spread the dengue virus and in fact, these mosquitoes can transfer the infection only when they themselves are infected.

How does dengue virus work?

When a mosquito bites a person infected with a dengue virus, the virus enters the mosquito. Then, when the infected mosquito bites another person, the virus enters that person’s bloodstream and causes an infection.

What is dengue virus?

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection, found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. The virus responsible for causing dengue, is called dengue virus (DENV). There are four DENV serotypes, meaning that it is possible to be infected four times.

How did mosquitoes get dengue?

Mosquitoes acquire the virus when they feed on a viraemic host, after which (in a susceptible species) the virus infects many tissues, including the salivary glands. While it can be a matter of weeks (and many blood meals) to become infective, the mosquitoes are infected for life.

Which of the following is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes?

Aedes aegypti is known to transmit dengue virus, yellow fever virus, chikungunya virus, and Zika virus.

How can we identify dengue mosquito?

The Aedes Aegypti mosquito, or dengue mosquito, is dark coloured and has typical white markings on the legs and lyre like markings on the thorax. It is significantly smaller in size, being only 4 to 7 millimetres long. In this species, the female mosquitoes are longer than males.

What causes dengue virus?

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.