In Ralf Pettersson, we have lost an influential and internationally recognized investigator with a significant impact in the field of animal virology. The Bunyaviridae constitute the viral family that he studied the most. These are relatively simple enveloped viruses with a tri-segmented negative-sense single-stranded RNA genome. With few exceptions, bunyaviruses are transmitted by arthropod vectors and are introduced into the skin of hosts via bites of infected arthropods. Dermal dendritic cells (DCs) are among the first cells to encounter incoming viruses. In this short review, we will discuss how arthropod-borne viruses exploit DCs to spread throughout the body of the human host. The mechanism depends on interactions with DC-SIGN, a C-type lectin abundantly expressed on DCs.