Dengue Fever Epidemic in the Capital of São Paulo Registers Record High

05/08/2015 - 08h46

With 38,927 confirmed cases of dengue fever, the city of São Paulo has registered a record high, a title which belonged to last year. The capital has reached epidemic proportions, with 340.1 infected per 100,000 inhabitants.

The last balance sheet, released on Thursday (May 7th) by the Municipal Department of Health, also reveals that eight people died due to dengue fever this year in the city. Three of them were people under 30 years old: a boy of 11 and two women aged 25 and 27.

Northern São Paulo continues to lead contamination rates, with 38.7% of cases, followed by the South with 18.6%, and the Southwest with 18.6%. Of the 96 districts of the city, 31have registered over 300 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Even with the record figure since 1987, based on data from the State of São Paulo's Epidemiological Surveillance Center, the department evaluates the situation in the capital is "better" than in other cities, and says the trend is to become stable.

In April, the State of São Paulo also registered a record high of dengue fever, with 222,000 confirmed cases.

Translated by CRISTIANE COSTA LIMA

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	Paulo Whitaker - 6.mar.2015/Reuters
	A national health official walks past residents as he carries out fumigation to help control the spread of dengue fever in Sao Paulo