faced with an unprecedented epidemic in Brazil, patients flock to hospitals

Faced with dengue fever for decades, Brazil has faced hundreds of thousands of cases since the start of 2024. Several states, including Rio de Janeiro, are already in a health emergency.

“Who’s next ?”. In this brand new care center specializing in the detection of dengue, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s second city, patients follow one another. Looking haggard and on a drip to avoid dangerous dehydration caused by this virus, Wheydson has just been taken into care: “I’m waiting for confirmation, but there is strong suspicion. I have a headache, I have a fever, pain in my body, in my joints… I’ve already had dengue fever, but This one is much stronger.”

Global warming, combined with the El Niño phenomenon, causes intense heat and heavy rain in Brazil and encourages the proliferation of mosquitoes. More than 550,000 cases of dengue fever have already been recorded in the country since the beginning of January, a record for this time of year. The epidemic claimed 91 lives and nearly 400 suspicious deaths were recorded.

Mosquitoes proliferate

The ten centers of this type scattered throughout the city of Rio are essential to confront the scourge of dengue fever, explains Daniel Soranz, in charge of health issues at the town hall: “The objective is to identify cases of dengue fever in advance to avoid any worsening of the patient’s health situation.“.

“The problem is that three types of virus are circulating at the same time, this is the first time in our history that we have dengue types 1, 2 and 4 at the same time, which facilitates this proliferation of cases.”

Daniel Soranz, in charge of health issues at Rio town hall

at franceinfo

Mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus proliferate in clean, stagnant water. After heavy rains, waste, dead leaves or flower pot saucers are all little paradises. Everyone must do their part and prevention actions are being carried out throughout the city.

A political issue for Lula

Cemeteries are particularly at risk, assures Sandro Lobo, head of the Caju cemetery, where the law now prohibits flowers: “The difficulty comes from the size of the cemetery, there are more than 100,000 graves here. There are hundreds of very large trees, which generate a lot of leaves. We cannot let the water stagnate on the graves, so that the oldest ones wear out and puddles form. Flowers, artificial flowers and vases must also be constantly removed.

After the catastrophic management of Covid-19 by his predecessor, the issue is also political for President Lula who is trying, even if the mortality rate from dengue fever is much lower, to rise to the occasion.