Tuesday, February 07, 2012

Dengue Fever Outbreak in Rio de Janeiro
There is a dengue fever outbreak in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At least 57,000 infections and 67 deaths have occurred statewide since the beginning of 2008. Several other deaths are being investigated. More than 50 percent of the cases have been reported among children under 14 years old. The city of Rio de Janeiro itself is heavily affected, you are encouraged to take precautionary measures when traveling to this region. 

Local health facilities are strained as new patients continue to seek care. The Brazilian Government has created a crisis group and hired 600 new medical personnel to help handle the outbreak. The civil defense service has been mobilized and allowed to enter private buildings to search for mosquito breeding sites.

About Dengue Fever
Dengue fever is a viral illness that occurs in many tropical and subtropical countries throughout the world.  Dengue is prevalent in the Caribbean, Central and South America, Mexico, India, the Pacific Islands, the tropical countries of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Dengue Fever is primarily spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito but can also be transmitted Aedes albopictus mosquito.  Both species of Aedes mosquito feed during the day.  The highest incidence of biting is during the morning for several hours after daybreak and in the late afternoon for several hours before dark. Symptoms include high fever, severe headaches, joint and muscle pain and cough. A rash often follows. The acute illness can last up to ten days, but complete recovery can take two to four weeks.

There are 4 types of Dengue (serotypes) viruses; if you are infected with one you will have lifelong immunity to that particular serotype but not against the others. 

Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is a severe and sometimes fatal form of Dengue Fever.  It rarely affects Western tourists because they usually have not been previously exposed to the dengue virus, which is a risk factor for DHF.