Amid the outbreak of dengue fever currently sweeping Jamaica, health experts are warning about the dangers of the mosquito-borne illness. Here's what to know. Fox News Media ...

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne illness causing high fever, severe pain, and potential complications. Learn about symptoms, treatment, prevention, and risk areas.

Patients suffering from dengue fever are treated inside the Mugdha General Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Sept. 17, 2023. Mamunur Rashid—NurPhoto/Getty Images.

Dengue fever is caused by four viruses, so a person can be infected four times in their lifetime. Only about 1 in 4 people are symptomatic the first time they’re infected, according to the CDC.

Dengue virus, often referred to as dengue fever or "break-bone fever," due to pain being one of the major symptoms, is spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito.