03 Mar 2019 | 12:33 PM UTC
Brazil: Dengue fever cases on rise in Southeast region as of early February /update 1
Elevated risk of contracting dengue fever across Brazil; 54,777 cases recorded nationwide from January 1 through February 2, of which roughly 60 percent reported in Southeast region
Event
According to the most recent statistics released by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, from January 1 to February 2, 2019, a total of 54,777 cases of dengue were reported nationwide, including at least five fatalities. The highest case numbers (59.9 percent) have been reported in the Southeast region, which contains Brazil's two largest cities, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Overall, the case numbers through February 2 represent a roughly threefold increase relative to the corresponding time period in 2018. Further spread of the disease is to be expected over the coming weeks.
Context
Symptoms of dengue fever include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea, and rashes. Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a potentially deadly complication that is characterized by high fever, the enlargement of the liver, and hemorrhaging.
Advice
Individuals present in Brazil - in particular, pregnant women and their partners - are advised to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites (e.g. by wearing covering clothing, using insect repellent, and sleeping in screened-in or air-conditioned rooms) and to eliminate possible mosquito breeding grounds (e.g. small pockets of fresh water, such as rainwater that has collected in cans, bottles, tires, flower pots, clogged gutters, etc.).
