Mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs) such as dengue, malaria, yellow fever, Zika, and chikungunya remain major global public health threats, transmitted primarily by Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex mosquito species. While the epidemiology of MBDs through horizontal transmission (via mosquito bites) has been extensively studied, vertical transmission—where infected mosquitoes pass pathogens to their offspring—has received comparatively less attention. Evidence suggests that vertical transmission plays a critical role in the persistence and endemicity of diseases like dengue, particularly during periods unfavorable for horizontal transmission. This study focuses on mathematically modeling the transmission dynamics of dengue fever, incorporating both horizontal and vertical transmission pathways. By extending classical epidemiological frameworks, the model provides insights into how dengue virus persists in human populations even during prolonged low-incidence periods. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of dengue epidemiology and highlight the importance of including vertical transmission in predictive models for effective disease control and public health planning
Chinyere Amarachi Okeke (Mon,) studied this question.