Dengue fever continues to be major health risk in Brazil

High risk areas for infection with the dengue fever virus have been identified in the following states:

• Sergipe - of 75 municipalities, 12 are considered high risk and 24 are medium risk for dengue fever.
• São Paulo (Bauru) - 7,441 reported cases from January to November 1st.
• Minas Gerais - highest number of reported cases in Brazil. Municipalities on alert include Aimorés, Bocaiuva, Cataguases, Conceição das Alagoas, Curvelo, Frutal, Ipatinga, Ituiutaba, Montes Claros, Muriaé, Teófilo Otoni and Vazante.
• Pernambuco - 8,650 reported cases with 19 deaths
• Bahia - high risk municipalities include Cafarnaum, Campo Formoso, Candeias, Ilhéus, Itabela, Itiruçu, Jacobina, Jequié, Mundo Novo, Planaltino, Santo Amaro, Senhor do Bonfim, Serrinha, Serrolândia, Terra Nova, Uibaí and the capital Salvador.
• Mato Grosso do Sul - Belo Horizonte Other states on alert include Maranhão, Roraima, Espirito Santo, Ceará, Tocantins, Goiás, and Rio de Janeiro.

There may be many more cases of dengue that are not reported. Counting and reporting cases may be difficult due to lack of local access to health care. Many persons with mild illness do not seek health care. 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.