Understanding
Dengue Fever
Overview
Cause
Transmission
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Complications
Related Links
View a list of links for more information about dengue fever. |
NIAID’s Role in Dengue Fever Research
Early diagnosis and treatment of dengue is critical as epidemics of the disease become larger and more frequent. An estimated 50 to 100 million people contact dengue each year in over 100 countries. Recent explosive outbreaks of the disease have occurred in Brazil with 120,570 cases so far in 2008 and Venezuela with more than 80,000 cases in 2007. Left untreated, patients may experience hemorrhage and shock, leading to death.
Recognizing the threat to public health posed by dengue, NIAID is funding nearly 60 dengue research projects, including studies on dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome, the most severe forms of the disease. NIAID research priorities include effective community-based prevention programs; improved laboratory-based international surveillance; rapid diagnostic tests and therapies; and development of and clinical trials for dengue vaccines. Learn more about NIAID's dengue fever research. | | |
News and Events
NIAID Experts See Dengue as Potential Threat to US Public Health—Jan. 8, 2008
Discovery and Evaluation of Therapeutics Against Dengue: Workshop Summary, NITD and NIH (PDF) |
Dr. Richard Kuhn of Purdue University provided the image of a dengue virion used in the banner above.