Biting concern: Dengue fever and beyond

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the dengue virus, transmitted primarily by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which bites during the daytime. It is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, making it a major public-health challenge for countries like India.

Dengue presents with sudden high fever, severe headache, retro-orbital pain, muscle and joint pain, nausea and rash. Severe dengue (formerly dengue haemorrhagic fever) can lead to plasma leakage, organ impairment and shock, requiring urgent medical care.

In India, dengue cases typically surge during the monsoon and post-monsoon season, driven by stagnant water and rapid urbanisation. The disease is notifiable in several states and the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) spearheads surveillance, fogging, early diagnosis and community awareness.

Control measures focus on eliminating mosquito breeding sites, promoting use of window screens, repellents and encouraging community-based vector control. Biological methods like larvivorous fish like Gambusia and chemical larvicides complement environmental management. A dengue vaccine (CYD-TDV) exists globally but is not widely used in India due to safety considerations.

For UPSC, link dengue to issues of urban health, climate change, vector ecology and public-health governance, which shape India’s long-term disease-control strategies.