HISTORY OF DENGUE

        The first reported epidemics of dengue fever occurred in 1779-1780 in Asia,Africa and North America almostsimultaneously.At that time, dengue virus and vector mosqutoes had a worldwide distribution in the tropics and subtropics. Aedes aegypti was identified as a vector of dengue virus in 1905. A global pandemic of dengue began in Southeast Asia after World War 2. It has intensified during the last two ecades in many countries. Sri Lanka,India and MaldiveIslands had their first major DHF epidemics in 1980s.

        In Pakistan,cases of dengue fever were first reported in 1994 from Karachi. Since then its victims are increasing in different regions of the country. In 2011, situation has become alarming in Lahore.