**1. Historical background**

The word "dengue" is known to be derived from Swahili language "ki denga pepo", which illustrates the meaning as "sudden cramp like seizure". The signs and indications that are suggestive of this viral disease can be tracked back to Chinese Chin Dynasty (265–420 AD) where this infection was believed to be a type of water poison and reported to be linked with insects and water [1]. Some of the historical accounts for dengue fever states that about 500–600 years ago, it appeared from Africa while the first and foremost outbreak of this deadly disease reached other parts of world in 1780s [2]. The detection and isolation of dengue virus date backed to the World War II and it was documented in Japan for the first time in 1942 [3]. Dengue-like symptoms have been reported in early Chinese manuscripts which can be traced back to 992 and to 1600s in the West Indies [4]. In another report, Benjamin Rush observed the first detailed symptoms of dengue shock syndrome (now severe dengue) in 1780 during an outbreak in Philadelphia near Delaware River [5]. Similar disease symptoms were observed in North America along Atlantic coast during eighteenth–nineteenth centuries, on the Caribbean Islands and the Mississippi basin [6]. Bancroft reported for the first time that *Aedes aegypti* mosquito is vector of dengue virus [7]. However, modern research about dengue virus was not started until 1943–1944. For the first time culturing and isolation of this virus was performed from suckling mice brain [8].

restricted till 1950s. But due to the Second World War, transport of *Aedes* mosquitoes happened around the world which played a crucial role in the dissemination of the viruses. Now, approximately 2.5 billion people live in areas where there is a risk of dengue transmission [9–12].

Dengue Fever: A General Perspective http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.81277 5

During 1850s, first case of dengue was documented in the Philippines and Thailand. Later, after 1980s large number of cases began to appear in the Caribbean and Latin America. Today, Dengue is endemic in at least 100 countries in Asia, the Pacific, the Americas, Africa, and the Caribbean. Dengue fever is reported to prevail in 26 states [13–15]. DENV-2 was the predominant serotype in dengue outbreaks that occurred before 2000 but DENV-3 was the predominant serotype between 2000 and 2009. After 2010, DENV-1 dominated global dengue outbreaks, and DENV-4 was the least frequently identified serotype [16, 17]. The geographical distribution of dengue with respect to countries has been shown in **Figure 1** which explains

Dengue virus spreads due to infected females of genus *Aedes*, significantly form *Aedes aegypti* and *Aedes albopictus*. There has been a serious concern amid public health departments. In newly invaded countries, *Aedes albopictus* would cause severe epidemics of arbovirus diseases (it is considered as a competent vector transmitting about 22 arboviruses), especially all four serotypes of dengue; however generally it is transmitted by *Aedes aegypti*. *Aedes albopictus* persists to spread, taking the place of *Aedes aegypti* in some areas. [18] *Aedes albopictus* might serve as a maintenance vector of dengue in non-urban areas of Pacific islands and Southeast Asia. *Aedes albopictus* is not considered an imperative urban dengue vector, but in a few countries where *Aedes aegypti* is not present, that is, the Seychelles, parts of China, Japan and Hawaii [18]. The biting females of *Aedes albopictus* were discovered firstly in 1999, in Southern Cameroon; it provoked survey in 2000 and then adults as well as breeding populations were identified in five major cities of the country mainly breeding in old tires imported from

*Aedes* is best known vectors of dengue fever and yellow fever. Some species of *Aedes* are also vectors of viral disease and filariasis [20]. Several serotypes of the dengue virus are carried to human beings via the bites of *Aedes* mosquitoes infected with dengue virus. *Aedes aegypti* is considered one of the most crucial vector whereas *Aedes niveus*, *Aedes albopictus* and *Aedes polynesiensis* have been reported as secondary vectors in most of the regions of the world [9]. *Aedes aegypti* and *Aedes albopictus* are known as the two primary vectors for transmitting the dengue in most parts of South Asia, including India. As the distribution of this affliction is concerned in respect to geographically, it is characteristically parallel to that of the principal vector species, *Aedes aegypti* [21]. Dengue mosquito is a subtropical and tropical species having distribution throughout the world [22]. Dengue virus spreads due to infected females of genus Aedes, specifically through *Aedes aegypti* in urban settings and *Aedes albopictus* in sylvatic areas [18]. *Aedes albopictus* (Diptera: *Culicidae*), is basically endemic to Pacific and Indian Oceanic islands, and from South-east Asia, it spread to America, Europe and Africa in recent decades dormant eggs in the tires. Venereal and possibly vertical transmission of dengue virus takes place by infected female of *Aedes aegypti* to its progeny (transovarian) and also

from infected male to the female during the process of copulation, respectively [23].

the current prevalence of this disease around the world [11].

Nigeria and USA which were infested with the mosquitoes [19].

**3. The vector**
