What should you know about dengue virus vector?

Aedes mosquitoes commonly bite during the day as well as around dawn and dusk. The mosquito becomes infected after feeding on someone whose blood contains dengue virus. After the virus develops inside the mosquito, a later bite can transmit it to another person. Dengue does not normally spread through casual contact such as sharing a room, touching or eating together. Dengue Fever may begin with Fever, Chills, Headache, Joint Pain or Muscle Aches.

Use an insect repellent according to its label, wear clothing that covers arms and legs, and keep doors and windows screened where possible. Empty, cover or clean containers that hold water, including plant trays, buckets and discarded items. If you have suspected dengue, prevent mosquito bites while ill so local mosquitoes do not acquire the virus. A GP Consultation is useful when symptoms follow travel or exposure.

Seek urgent care for severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, bleeding, breathing difficulty, confusion, faintness, cold clammy skin or reduced urination. Easy Bruising alongside fever should be reported promptly. The mosquito bite itself may go unnoticed, so absence of a visible bite does not exclude dengue; symptoms and clinical assessment guide next steps.

Ask how to protect children and other household members, which breeding sites to check, whether travel changes your risk, and when testing or review is needed.