Dengue fever (pronounced UK: 

/ˈdɛŋɡeɪ/, US: /ˈdɛŋɡiː/) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF)

are acute febrile diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, which occur in the tropics, can be life-
threatening, and are caused by four closely related virus serotypes of the genus Flavivirus, family
Flaviviridae.[1] It was identified and named in 1779. It is also known as breakbone fever, since it
can be extremely painful. Unlike malaria, dengue is just as prevalent in the urban districts of its
range as in rural areas. Each serotype is sufficiently different that there is no cross-protection and
epidemics caused by multiple serotypes (hyperendemicity) can occur. Dengue is transmitted to
humans by the Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti or more rarely the Aedes albopictus mosquito. The
mosquitoes that spread dengue usually bite at dusk and dawn but may bite at any time during the
day, especially indoors, in shady areas, or when the weather is cloudy.[2]

The WHO says some 2.5 billion people, two fifths of the world's population, are now at risk
from dengue and estimates that there may be 50 million cases of dengue infection worldwide
every year. The disease is now endemic in more than 100 countries.[3]