Dengue fever: A Mayo Clinic expert explains the mosquito-borne infection

Recent outbreaks of dengue fever in Brazil have prompted public health officials to launch an immunization campaign targeting children ages 10 to 11.

Dengue fever is a potentially life-threatening viral infection transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes.

"Four different subtypes of the virus can cause infections in humans," says Dr. Stacey Rizza, a Mayo Clinic infectious diseases specialist. "Wherever you have a significant number of mosquitoes and warm hot environments is where you see dengue transmission."
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