Dengue is currently the most common arboviral infection worldwide.

Due to global climate change and other factors, the vector of the virus – the Aedes mosquito – has spread considerably over the past decades.

Dengue is endemic in almost all tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world; meaning that approximately 40% of the world population is at risk of acquiring a dengue infection.

The clinical features of dengue vary from a non-specific febrile illness (dengue fever) to at times fatal serious conditions such as dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS).

Considering the limited possibilities of prevention it is anticipated that the incidence of dengue will increase in the future.

It is expected that health-care providers in non-endemic regions will encounter dengue-infected patients with increasing frequency in their practices.