Dengue infection is caused by any one of four distinct but
closely related dengue virus (DENV) serotypes (called DENV-1,
-2, -3, and -4). These dengue viruses are single-stranded RNA
viruses that belong to the family Flaviviridae and the genus
Flavivirus—a family which includes other medically important
vector-borne viruses (e.g., West Nile virus, Yellow Fever virus,
Japanese Encephalitis virus, St. Louis Encephalitis virus,
etc.). Dengue viruses are arboviruses (arthropod-borne virus)
that are transmitted primarily to humans through the bite of an
infected Aedes species mosquito. Transmission may also occur
through transfusion of infected blood or transplantation of
infected organs or tissues. Human transmission of dengue is also
known to occur after occupational exposure in healthcare
settings (e.g., needle stick injuries) and cases of vertical
transmission have been described in the literature (i.e.,
transmission from a dengue infected pregnant mother to her fetus
in utero or to her infant during labor and