The book Fevered Cities: A History of Dengue Epidemics by Randall M. Packard, professor emeritus of the history of medicine at Johns Hopkins University, examines the history of dengue epidemics from the 18th century to the present.[1][2] Dengue is the most widespread mosquito-borne viral disease in the world, transmitted primarily by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.[1][2] The author describes the transformation of dengue from an initially misunderstood physiological disease to a vector-borne disease and later to more serious forms such as dengue hemorrhagic fever.[2] The book focuses on urban settings in cities such as Philadelphia, Manila, Havana, and Rio de Janeiro, where epidemics affected local conditions.[2] Factors such as climate change, global trade, social inequalities, uncontrolled urbanization and environmental degradation make it difficult to control the disease, which occurs in more than 100 countries.[2] Packard analyzes efforts to combat the disease, from vector control campaigns to modern technologies such as genetically modified mosquitoes and vaccines.[2]