Is Dengue Contagious (Nakakahawa)?
Can you catch it just by being near someone who has it? Many people wonder about this, but the truth is, dengue does not spread directly from person to person. It is a viral disease transmitted only through the bite of an infected mosquito, especially the Aedes aegypti, which is common in tropical countries like the Philippines.
Dengue is caused by the dengue virus and is transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes. Unlike illnesses such as measles or influenza, dengue does not spread through coughing, sneezing, touching, or sharing utensils. A person cannot get dengue simply by being near someone who is infected.
Transmission occurs when a mosquito bites a person who has dengue during the early stage of infection. The mosquito becomes a carrier of the virus and, after a short incubation period inside the mosquito, can pass the virus to another person through subsequent bites. This mosquito-to-human cycle is the main way dengue spreads in tropical countries like the Philippines.
Although rare, dengue can also be transmitted through blood transfusion, organ transplantation, or from a pregnant mother to her baby. Because there is no direct person-to-person transmission in normal daily contact, prevention focuses on mosquito control, eliminating stagnant water, using mosquito repellents, installing screens, and supporting community clean-up drives.