Dengue: Brazil reports 12 fatalities, over 120,000 suspected cases

During the first three weeks of 2024, Brazil reported 12 deaths from dengue and 120,874 probable cases of the disease, compared to 26 fatalities and 44,753 probable cases in the same period last year.

Currently, there are 85 deaths under investigation. Health Minister Nísia Trindade remarked this week, "We are experiencing a period of significant concern regarding dengue."

The ministry has confirmed the circulation of all four dengue serotypes in the country, notably serotype 3, which has not been epidemic in Brazil for over 15 years. Serotype 1 is now the predominant strain.

"We presently have all four serotypes circulating simultaneously in the country. It's a very concerning situation," emphasized Alda Cruz, the director of the ministry's Communicable Diseases department.

Chikungunya

According to the Weekly Report on Urban Arboviruses, data reveal that in the initial three weeks of 2024, the country recorded 7,063 cases of chikungunya, a disease also transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

The current incidence rate stands at 3.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, reflecting a 34.1 percent decrease compared to the same period last year. While one death from the disease has been confirmed, eight more are under investigation.

Zika

Regarding Zika, the ministry's data cover the latter half of 2023, during which 1,954 probable cases have been reported, with 116 occurring in pregnant women. There were no fatalities, and the incidence rate stood at 1 case per 100,000 inhabitants. The virus, transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, is linked to neurological complications such as congenital microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome.

El Niño

Climate changes resulting from the El Niño phenomenon are contributing to Aedes aegypti infestations and the surge in dengue cases observed in Brazil. This is due to the ideal conditions created by high temperatures and intermittent rainfall, which provide a perfect environment for mosquito proliferation. Infectologists interviewed by Agência Brasil and Rádio Nacional have issued this warning.

Infectologist Antonio Carlos Bandeira, a graduate of the Federal University of Bahia who discovered the Zika virus in Brazil, has elucidated that a climate corridor spanning from the Central-West region of the country to the western parts of the Southeast and South regions is driving the surge in dengue cases, not only within Brazil but also in neighboring countries like Paraguay and Argentina. "This corridor has facilitated the spread of Aedes aegypti," he explained.

Kleber Luz, an infectious disease specialist and dengue consultant for the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), clarified that El Niño does indeed contribute to a rise in the number of dengue cases by increasing sea temperatures, which in turn affects the continent's temperature.

According to him, the rise in cases will not only increase in number but also expand the area affected by dengue. "Southern Brazil, where dengue was once rare, is now consistently the second most affected region," he noted. For instance, the state of Paraná has already reported almost 17,000 cases and four fatalities from the disease since July.