Computational Epidemiology Lab has created a website to show how emerging technologies can help clarify patterns of disease and promote public health. This interactive map and timeline provides information on the Dengue virus.

Dengue is widespread throughout the tropics, with risk factors influenced by local spatial variations of rainfall, temperature, relative humidity, degree of urbanization and quality of vector control services in urban areas. Before 1970, only nine countries had experienced severe dengue epidemics. Today, the disease is endemic in more than 100 countries in WHO’s African, Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions; the Americas, South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions are the most seriously affected.

Dengue virus is a viral disease that is spread by mosquitoes. It is a problem in many tropical and subtropical parts of the world, including Africa, Asia, South America and some parts of northern Queensland. Estimates suggest that around 100 million cases occur each year.

The earliest account of a dengue like disease comes from the Jin dynasty (265–420 ce) in China. There is also evidence that epidemics of illnesses resembling dengue occurred in the 17th century. However, three epidemics that took place in the late 18th century mark the arrival of the disease that is today recognized as dengue fever.

The dengue virus is transmitted to humans via the bite of an infected mosquito. Only a few mosquito species are vectors for the dengue virus.