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One in Ten Brazilian Cities Register Dengue Epidemic
03/19/2015 - 09h30
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NATÁLIA CANCIAN
FROM BRASÍLIA
About one in ten Brazilian cities have already registered epidemic rates of dengue this year, according to a survey by the Ministry of Health made at Folha's request.
This means that in 511 municipalities in the country, the incidence of dengue exceeds 300 cases per 100,000 inhabitants – or is above the parameter set by the World Health Organization for the disease.
On average, these cities have 895 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to the national average of 110 cases. Together they account for two-thirds of dengue reported in Brazil –which brings to the total of 224,000 cases since January, 162% more than in the same period last year.
São Paulo has 268 municipalities currently in the epidemic threshold, the highest among all states. Next is Goiás, with 84 cities, and Paraná, with 47.
The infectious disease specialist Mark Boulos, also a staff member in the State of São Paulo's Disease Control Department, predicts a new record this year. "Patients already have to wait from four to six hours for medical care. We are concerned."
He attributes the dengue results in the state of São Paulo to the fact that many of these cities have had no previous contact with the disease -as one can only contract the different types of viruses once, residents of these places are more vulnerable than others.
Translated by CRISTIANE COSTA LIMA
Read the article in the original language
Edson Silva - 14.abr.2014/Folhapress | ||
A national health official walks past residents as he carries out fumigation to help control the spread of dengue fever |