Dengue cases in Brazil increased by 95% compared to 2021

By Sayonara Moreno, from Agência Brasil

The number of possible cases of dengue feverIt has almost doubled across Brazil since the beginning of the year compared to the same period in 2021, according to an epidemiological bulletin issued by the Ministry of Health.

According to the survey, nearly 400,000 possible cases dengue feverwhich represents a 95% increase compared to the same period last year. So far, there are 184 cases per 100,000 residents this year.

For the second vice president of the Federal Council of Medicine, Rosilan Rocha, two factors could explain this significant increase. The first is that Dengue fever is a seasonal disease, with a higher percentage in periods of rain and heat. As rains in many areas this year have exceeded expectations, they have encouraged water accumulation, a favorable situation for Mosquito outbreaks transmitter Aedes aegypti.

Another reason, according to Rosellan Rocha, is that the fear of COVID-19 has caused many people to seek medical care, which has led to an increase in official records of dengue cases, because the two diseases initially have similar symptoms.

Much higher than the national average, the dengue infection rate in the Midwest region is over 700 cases per 100,000 population, with an emphasis on the capitals Goiania, Brasilia and Palmas. In the federal capital where photographer Rafael Padilla lives, who contracted dengue fever shortly after recovering from COVID-19 in February. Fearing the symptoms, he began to suspect complications of covid-19. In the area where he lives, Rafael says, there is an outbreak of dengue fever and that even his youngest son, who is about two years old, is unharmed.

The Ministry of Health bulletin indicates that so far, 112 people have been confirmed dead out of 280 who contracted an exacerbation of dengue fever in the country. Records occurred mainly in the states Sao Paulofollowed by GoiásAnd BahiaAnd Santa Catarina And Minas Gerais. In addition, more than 170 deaths are still being investigated and may be related to dengue fever.