There are four similar viruses that cause dengue: DENV-1, 2, 3, and 4. They are part of the flavivirus family, which includes yellow fever, the West Nile and Zika viruses, and many others. DENV is short for dengue virus.

Mosquitoes are the most deadly animal in the world, killing up to one million people a year as estimated by the World Health Organization.

Scientists think mosquitoes and primates, such as monkeys and apes, passed a dengue-like virus back and forth in Asia and Africa long before it evolved into the infection that affects millions of people today. 

It is easy to confuse the typical symptoms of dengue with the symptoms of other tropical diseases. So, how can you tell the difference between dengue, Chikungunya, malaria, Zika or other viruses like flu or even COVID-19?