Dengue fever activity in Brazil - weekly summary

Transmission of the dengue fever virus is continuing in Brazil with reports from the following states and locations:

• Ceará - 2 deaths among 6,500 cases in 124 cities; 17 more deaths being investigated.
• Paraná - 42,000 cases with 47 deaths in 309 municipalities (70 with epidemic levels of transmission); Paranaguá reports highest number of infections. Foz do Iguaçu reports an additional 323 cases and 1 death in the last week.
• Minas Gerais - major transmission of the virus continues with almost 425,000 cases and 87 deaths
• São Paulo - municipality of Bauru reports almost 1,000 cases (116 new cases)
• Mato Grosso do Sul - 70 out of 79 cities have high levels of transmission. Três Lagoas reports almost 1,200 cases with 55,000 cases statewide.
• Rio Grande do Sul - transmission reported in Porto Alegre (almost 1,800 suspected and confirmed cases)
• Piauí - decrease in cases but transmission still continues (2,700 cases reported)

Advice

The absence of reports from other states and cities does not mean that there is no dengue fever transmission there. The risk of exposure will vary from place to place and may be high in many localities across Brazil.

All travellers to areas where the dengue fever virus is active can reduce their risk of exposure by taking all necessary precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Many persons with dengue fever do not seek medical care and are not reported to health authorities. There may be many more cases in the community than the reports indicate.

Travellers should be aware that the same mosquito that transmits dengue fever virus also can transmit chikungunya virus and Zika virus.