The Brazilian state of São Paulo has recently announced a public health emergency due to an increase in fatalities related to dengue fever.
What’s happening?
The warning was issued by the local health authority in February, and as of May 26, they had reported approximately 617,000 out of Brazil’s total 2.5 million dengue cases for the year.
as per Vax Before Travel
, which highlighted the emerging public health crisis. São Paulo also topped the nation in dengue-linked fatalities, reporting 692 deaths, the report further noted.
citing government data
.
This isn’t unprecedented for São Paulo—according to Vax Before Travel, the state documented roughly 2.1 million dengue cases along with around 2,100 deaths associated with the disease in 2024.
What makes the Dengue outbreak worrisome?
Dengue fever is a disease transmitted via mosquitoes. As per the Mayo Clinic, this condition may lead to
symptoms
such as high fever, headaches, muscle or joint pain, body ache, nausea, vomiting, discomfort behind the eyes, swollen lymph nodes, and rashes.
The
World Mosquito Program
referred to 2024 as the “most severe year for dengue cases ever recorded,” with numerous experts suggesting that this surge was partly due to increasing global temperatures. Indeed, several research papers have shown that higher temperatures contribute to larger mosquito populations and broader geographical distributions, thereby accelerating the transmission of vector-borne illnesses such as dengue fever, malaria, Zika, and West Nile virus.
For instance, one recent
study
discovered that multiple mosquito species might spread throughout the Americas due to higher temperatures. In 2024, San Diego County reported its first case.
first-ever locally acquired case
of dengue.
Tune in right away: Could your everyday bathroom staple be harming your health?
What actions are being taken regarding vector-borne diseases?
Once officials in San Diego County discovered that dengue had reached their area, they promptly took action.
sprayed neighborhoods
For mosquitoes. In the meantime, authorities in a Florida county are employing
X-rays
to eliminate invasive mosquitoes there.
You can decrease your risk of diseases carried by mosquitoes by taking steps to avoid getting bitten. The
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
recommends using
EPA-registered insect repellents
, using loose-fitting, long garments, and applying 0.5% permethrin to clothes and equipment.
Vax Before Travel also noted that although a second-generation
dengue vaccine
The availability will be restricted in 2025; however, São Paulo’s Butantan Institute is contributing to the development of a vaccine that might be ready by 2026.
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Authorities announce state of emergency due to rise in mosquito-borne illness fatalities — here’s what you should be aware of.
first appeared on
The Cool Down
.
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