RNA arboviruses !
- Viruses
Viruses spread by the bites of arthropods (mosquitoes, midges). In Colombia they cause dengue, Zika, chikungunya, yellow fever and Oropouche fever.
Updated 2026-11-01
What they are
This group gathers RNA viruses kept in nature in a cycle between blood-feeding arthropods and vertebrates. They belong to different families (flaviviruses, alphaviruses, orthobunyaviruses) but share the route of spread, a similar early febrile illness and vector control as the core of prevention.
What they share
- RNA genome and a lipid envelope
- Vector-borne (Aedes, Haemagogus, Sabethes, Culicoides)
- Acute fever with headache, myalgia, arthralgia or rash
- RT-PCR in the first week, serology afterwards
- Standard precautions: no person-to-person respiratory spread
Microorganisms in this group
- Dengue virusA virus spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. It causes high fever and body aches and, in some people, plasma leakage that can lead to shock.Exam priority: high
- Zika virusA virus spread by Aedes mosquitoes, and also sexually and from mother to fetus. It is usually mild, but in pregnancy it can cause microcephaly.Exam priority: high
- Chikungunya virusA virus spread by Aedes mosquitoes that causes sudden fever with very severe joint pain; in some people the pain lasts months or years.Exam priority: high
- Yellow fever virusA flavivirus kept alive by monkeys and forest mosquitoes. It can cause jaundice, bleeding and organ failure; one vaccine dose protects for life.Exam priority: high
- Oropouche virusA virus spread mainly by a tiny biting midge. It causes a dengue-like fever that often comes back days or weeks later.For completeness
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
Which vector do dengue, Zika and chikungunya share?
Aedes mosquitoes, above all Aedes aegypti (and Aedes albopictus), which bite by day and breed in containers holding water.
Why can Zika IgM be confused with dengue?
Both are flaviviruses, so antibodies cross-react, especially after earlier infection or vaccination against another flavivirus.
Which test best confirms an arbovirus in the first days of fever?
Direct detection of the virus by RT-PCR in blood during the first week; serology is more useful later.
Educational content on microorganisms; not a treatment guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.
Sources: Dengue: Symptoms, Prevention and Treatments (Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), 2025); Oropouche virus disease (World Health Organization (WHO), 2024); Yellow Fever (Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), 2025).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.