Dengue fever transmission in Brazil - update

Transmission of the dengue fever virus has been reported by the following states and municipalities:

• Mato Grosso do Sul - 72 cities on alert for possible dengue epidemic; in 2016, 18 cities had epidemics of dengue: São Gabriel do Oeste, Campo Grande, Ponta Porã, Coxim, Nova Alvorada do Sul, Bonito, Dourados, Naviraí, Sidrolândia, Paranaíba, Rio Verde de Mato Grosso, Ivinhema, Três Lagoas, Cassilândia, Bataguassu, Nova Andradina, Jardim and Corumbá.
• Minas Gerais - 61 deaths up to end of December; more cases expected during summer season.
• Paraíba - increasing number of reported cases in Taubaté; in 2016, 30% more cases than in 2015; 219 cities are reporting cases.
• São Paulo - Rio Preto and Bauru expect epidemic levels of transmission.
• Sergipe - 71 municipalities reported cases; São Cristóvão and Santa Luzia do Itanhy reported increases.
• Tocantins - affected municipalities included Araguaína and Palmas.
• Espíritu Santo - affected municipalities include Vitória, Romão, Forte São João, Centro and Resistência.
• Paraná - Maringá, Paranaguá, Cascavel, Toledo, Foz do Iguaçu, and Londrina are most affected cities.

Advice

The absence of reports from other areas 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 dengue virus is transmitted are reminded that the same mosquito also transmits the Zika and chikungunya viruses. Travellers to areas where these viruses are active can reduce their risk of exposure by taking all necessary precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Many persons with dengue, chikungunya and Zika infections 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.