São Paulo Has Over One Death a Day Due to Dengue

04/17/2015 - 09h09

This year's dengue epidemic in São Paulo has caused, on average, over one death per day.

Since the beginning of the year, there have been at least 122 deaths, according to a survey carried out by Folha in 60 of 645 municipalities. This is the highest number in four years and one of the highest in the records kept by the Ministry of Health.

Nevertheless, the disease has not yet peaked. This should occur between late April and early May, due to climate variations and the seasonality of the mosquito.

Throughout the state of São Paulo this year, the disease has affected 167,100 people so far, which put São Paulo in state of emergency –when there are at least 300 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

In the capital, with 10,600 confirmed cases, four confirmed deaths and seven more being analyzed -as opposed to 14 in total in 2014.

Yesterday (April 16th), given the worsening of the situation and queues of patients in public and private networks, Mayor Fernando Haddad (PT) announced that 50 Army men will help fight the spread of dengue.

Tents to expand the service were put up in neighborhoods with some of the highest number of cases.

According to information passed by municipalities, most deaths are of older people who are generally already weakened by other diseases.

The expectation is that, by next year, the country could rely on an effective vaccine against all four serotypes.

Translated by CRISTIANE COSTA LIMA

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	Danilo Verpa/Folhapress
	The disease has not yet peaked. This should occur between late April and early May