Dengue fever in Brazil - weekly summary

Reports of dengue fever continue to increase in Brazil. Nationwide, almost 500,000 infected people have been registered. States (and municipalities) currently reporting transmission of the virus include:

• Minas Gerais - 217,000 cases with 29 deaths; Ituiutaba; Contagem (1 death), Belo Horizonte (more than 16,000 cases), Divinópolis, Monte Carmelo, Abaeté, Além Paraíba, Araxá, Bicas, Espera Feliz, Ibirité, Mutum, Patrocínio, Pompéu, Raposos, Juiz de Fora and Recreio
• Paraíba - over 14,000 cases (12 deaths); Uiraúna
• São Paulo - Sorocaba; Pindamonhangaba
• Rio de Janeiro - Duque de Caxias
• Mato Grosso do Sul - Campo Grande (more than 20,000 cases); São Gabriel do Oeste, Alcinópolis, Bandeirantes, Deodápolis and Coxim
• Paraná - 16,000 cases with 27 deaths; 276 of 399 municipalities have reported cases; affected municipalities include Foz do Iguaçu, Paranaguá, Medianeira, Santa Terezinha de Itaipu, Antonina, Curitiba and Maringá.
• Santa Catarina - Pinhalzinho, Serra Alta, Descanso, Bom Jesus, Coronel Freitas
• Rio Grande do Sul - Porto Alegre
• Ceará - Caucaia, Crato, Fortaleza, Fortim, Icó, Maracanaú, Paraipaba and Salitre.
• Espírito Santo - 29,727 cases

Advice

The absence of reports does not mean that there is no dengue fever transmission in other states or municipalities. 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.