Brazil: Dengue fever outbreak reported in Três Lagoas

Event

An outbreak of dengue fever is ongoing in the city of Três Lagoas (Mato Grosso do Sul state). Officials have confirmed 125 cases out of 2752 reported cases in December 2018. At least 1123 cases were confirmed overall in the city in 2018. Authorities have advised individuals to take precautions against mosquitoes and the Ministry of Health has deployed aircraft to assist in repellent efforts. 

Context

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease found mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea, and rash. In a small number of cases, the potentially deadly dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) may develop, resulting in internal bleeding, enlargement of the liver, and high fever.

Advice

Individuals present in Três Lagoas are advised to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites (e.g. by wearing covering clothing, using insect repellent, and sleeping in a screened-in or air-conditioned room) and to eliminate possible mosquito breeding grounds on their properties (e.g. small pockets of fresh water, such as rainwater that has collected in cans, bottles, tires, flower pots, clogged gutters, etc.).