How do mosquitoes become vectors for dengue transmission?

Mosquitoes become vectors for dengue transmission primarily through the process of biting an infected person. When a mosquito feeds on the blood of a person who has dengue virus in their bloodstream, it ingests the virus along with the blood. This is a crucial step in the transmission cycle, as the virus then replicates within the mosquito. Once the virus has replicated sufficiently, the mosquito can transmit the dengue virus to another person during subsequent feedings. This makes biting an infected person a key mechanism for spreading the disease.

While breeding in clean water, laying eggs near water bodies, and feeding on plants are all activities associated with mosquitoes, they do not directly relate to the transmission process of the dengue virus. Breeding sites contribute to mosquito populations, and feeding on plants is part of their ecological role, but it is the act of biting an infected individual that transforms mosquitoes into vectors for dengue.