The officials in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, have declared a health emergency to control the spread of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne disease.
Dengue cases in Brazil quadrupled in January compared to last year, with Rio reporting 10,000 cases already this year, surpassing the total for 2023.
Dengue symptoms include fever, headache, eye pain, joint pain, and rash.
While Brazil approved a dengue vaccine from Takeda last year, distribution remains limited. The government plans to prioritize high-transmission areas.
Rio city hall will open 10 treatment centres to manage dengue cases, aiming to reduce severe cases and deaths.
Health officials advise using repellent to prevent mosquito bites and eliminating stagnant water where mosquitos breed.
Health Minister Nísia Trindade urges checking homes for breeding sites. Fumigation and public announcements will target affected areas, including the Sambadrome, famous for Rio's Carnival parade.
Other regions in Brazil, including the federal district and states like Minas Gerais, Acre, and Goiás, have also declared health emergencies due to rising dengue cases.
Fabio Baccheretti, the health secretary of Minas Gerais, attributed the spread to record temperatures, exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon.
Argentina has also experienced an increase in dengue cases.
Tags: sloop definition, dengue fever, dengue, carnival, eagles brazil, eagles brazil game, sao paulo brazil, measles outbreak 2024,carnival brazil, Corinthians arena, brazil carnival 2024, brazil carnival, carnival brazil 2024, brazil time zone, measles outbreak Ohio, flights to brazil, time in rio de Janeiro, Rio carnival, Rio carnival 2024, dengue vaccine, carnival rio, rio de janeiro time