1. Infected mosquitoes are able to pass on the dengue virus for the rest of their life(they won’t die like when bees sting you). When the mosquito feeds on the blood of a person infected with dengue, the virus enters and multiplies within the mosquito. After about 8-10 days, the mosquito can transmit the virus to another human.
2. Only female mosquitoes are dengue carriers. This is because the human blood is rich in protein, which is necessary for the production of their eggs. Male mosquitoes only rely on plant nectars as their food for survival. A female mosquito typically lives between 3 to 100 days
3. There are four different but closely related strains of the virus that cause dengue fever. If you get infected with one strain, this does NOT protect you against catching any of the three other types.
4. The Aedes mosquito responsible for spreading dengue fever is most active during the DAY, particularly around dawn and dusk – although it is important to note that this mosquito can bite ANY time of the day or night. This is opposite to the mosquitoes that transmit malaria, which typically bite at NIGHT between dusk and dawn.
5. Dengue fever goes by other names – including “breakbone” or “dandy fever.” The name breakbone fever is due to the symptoms of intense joint and muscle pain experienced by victims of dengue fever. Slaves in the West Indies who contracted dengue were said to have dandy fever because of their postures and gait.
6. Dengue fever patients should never take aspirin. Aspirin can intensify the bleeding of a dengue fever patient so most of the time paracetamol is recommended instead to relieve fever and pain symptoms.
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