Dengue fever in Brazil - bi-weekly summary

The following states (localities) are reporting continuous transmission of the dengue fever virus:

• Amazonas - double the number of cases compared to last year. Five time the number in capital Manaus (almost 2,000 cases). Other affected municipalities include Tabatinga, Humaitá, Novo Aripuanã, and Borba.
• Bahia - almost 60,000 infected persons.
• Pará - most affected municipalities include Belém, Dom Eliseu, Alenquer, and Itaituba.
• Mato Grosso - considered to have high level of infection with almost 1 percent of population infected.
• Paraíba - almost doble number of cases last year. Total is 36,000 infected people with 49 deaths.
• Mato Grosso do Sul - 17 deaths. Affected municipalities include Ponta Porã, Campo Grande, Dourados, Coxim, Maracaju, Porto Murtinho and Tacuru.

Advice

The absence of reports from other states 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.

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 also be aware that the chikungunya and Zika viruses are also being transmitted in these states since these virus are transmitted by the same mosquito that transmits dengue fever.