A Review on Epidemiology of Dengue Viral Infection as an Emerging Disease

Abstract

Dengue Virus (DENV) is transmitted by mosquito bite. This paper discusses the importance of Dengue Fever (DF) as an emerging disease in the world. In this study, some keywords such as break bone fever, dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever, epidemiology, transmission methods, clinical manifestations, treatment, prevention, reservoirs, vectors, and Iran were searched on the Internet and reputable medical journals in order to find the papers published from 1988 to 2020. Until the mid-20th century, Dengue fever was restricted to special parts of the tropics and subtropics. Climate changes, increasing international travels and urban population, ineffective vector control methods, the lack of safe and effective antiviral drug and vaccine to prevent the disease are among the various factors contributing to the global distribution of DF. Dengue fever is a serious global threat to the lives of over 2.5 billion people in over 100 countries. Today, DF is endemic to Asia, Africa, South America, and the Caribbean. In fact, approximately 40% of the world's population is now living in countries with a high risk of DF transmission. The disease is endemic to urban and suburban areas across the tropics and subtropics of the world. It has been reported as an imported disease in Iran in recent years. Due to the appropriate climatic conditions and the presence of vectors, DF is likely to become endemic to Iran and put a large proportion of the population at risk of transmission. Therefore, the DF vectors' control should be precisely and consistently included in the Iranian health system’s agendas.