Headline: Brazil Confronts Escalating Dengue Outbreak Ahead of Carnival with Emergency Measures and Nationwide Vaccination Drive
Key Facts:
- The Brazilian Health Ministry has registered a staggering 364,855 cases of dengue fever this year, resulting in 40 confirmed deaths, while an additional 240 deaths are currently under investigation.
- As Rio de Janeiro braces for the onset of Carnival on Feb. 14, with an expected daily influx of around 100,000 people, the city has reported 25,000 cases, prompting intensified preventive measures.
- Rio de Janeiro has inaugurated ten new care centers dedicated to dengue patients, alongside measures such as cordoning off mosquito-infested areas and using smoke to deter insects.
- States including Minas Gerais, Acre, Goias, and Brasilia have declared states of emergency, with the Brazilian Air Force establishing a field hospital in Ceilandia, a densely-populated suburb of Brasilia.
News Peg: Responding to the crisis, the Brazilian Health Ministry initiates an extensive vaccination campaign employing Qdenga, a dengue vaccine. While securing regulatory approval in the European Union, the U.K., and Brazil, the vaccine faces challenges awaiting FDA approval in the U.S. The government procured 6.5 million doses for 2024, with an additional order of 9 million for 2025. However, supply constraints persist, requiring a two-dose regimen over three months.
Key Background: Dengue annually affects approximately 400 million people, causing an estimated 40,000 deaths. The virus, transmitted through mosquito bites, lacks human-to-human transmission but can proliferate rapidly, especially in crowded events like Carnival. Infected individuals can unknowingly transmit the virus to mosquitoes before showing symptoms. Dengue symptoms encompass nausea, vomiting, and severe cases may involve internal bleeding. While uncommon in the U.S., isolated cases have been reported in Arizona.