The worst dengue outbreak in Brazilian history continues. More than six million confirmed and probable infections with the dengue virus have been registered in the South American country since the beginning of the year, the Ministry of Health announced.
During the previous largest epidemic in 2015, around 1.6 million cases of dengue were counted in the entire calendar year. According to the information, a total of 4,019 deaths due to dengue infection were confirmed.
Last year there were 1,179 deaths. Another 2,837 suspected cases are currently under investigation. But the data also shows that the disease peaked at more than 1.7 million cases so far in March and has declined since.
In April, numbers remained high at almost 1.6 million cases – from May, transmission slowed by around 990,000 cases, according to Brazil’s Ministry of Health.
Rain and high temperatures as triggers
The increase is probably caused by the heavy rainfall and high temperatures in recent months. Under these conditions, the yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti), which transmits dengue viruses, can develop particularly well.
Dengue fever – also called ‘bonebreaker disease’ because of the pain – is widespread in the tropics and subtropics. However, not everyone who is infected becomes ill and the course of the disease is often mild.
Source: Krone
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