Plagues,
Pestilences and Diseases
Rio faces dengue fever epidemic: Brazil health minister
by Staff Writers
Brasilia (AFP) Feb 18, 2012
Brazilian Health Minister Alexandre Padilla on Thursday warned
that Rio de Janeiro faced a major dengue epidemic, although he
said the virus strain prevalent was not fatal.
"I believe that Rio could this year face one of the worst dengue
epidemics in its history, in terms of number of cases," he said in
a television interview.
Padilla said the dengue virus strain prevalent in Rio was not the
most serious and was not fatal.
The official Agencia Brasil said since the start of the year,
3,499 dengue cases have been recorded in Rio, compared with 2,322
last year, but none were fatal.
The government said that nationally cases dropped 62 percent this
year to 40,486.
Dengue affects between 50 and 100 million people in the tropics
and subtropics each year, resulting in fever, muscle and joint
ache.
But it can also be fatal, developing into hemorrhagic fever and
shock syndrome, which is characterized by bleeding and a loss of
blood pressure.
The news comes as Carnival frenzy sweeps Brazil and the South
aAmerican powerhouse prepares for a week of sizzling samba
dancing, glittering parades and unabashed merry-making in Rio and
other cities.