Rainfall as the reason

Brazil: Rapid increase in dengue infections

Rainfall and high temperatures fuel the spread of dengue fever in Brazil.(Bild: AP)

Dengue fever is currently spreading at an unusually high rate in Brazil. In the first two months of the year, 1,017,278 confirmed or probable infections were counted in the South American country. This is almost five times as many cases as in the same period last year (207,475). 

The health authorities also counted 214 confirmed deaths and 687 more are still being investigated for a link to the dengue virus. Six states and the capital district have declared a health emergency.

The heavy rainfall and high temperatures in recent months are likely to have triggered the sharp increase. Under these conditions, the yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti), which transmits dengue viruses, can thrive. The massive spread of dengue fever has also reached other countries on the continent: at the beginning of the week, the Peruvian government declared a state of emergency for most of the country. The number of cases has also recently risen significantly in Argentina.

In order to contain the spread of the disease, the Brazilian Ministry of Health has declared a "D-Day" for this Saturday. On this day, people all over the country are to help fight the mosquitoes by drying out breeding grounds such as flower pot coasters. In addition, a vaccination campaign with a new vaccine against dengue fever began in Brazil in February.

Dengue fever - sometimes known as "breakbone disease" due to the severe pain associated with it - is widespread in the tropics and subtropics. However, the course of the disease is often mild and not every infected person shows symptoms.