ADVERTISING

Latest Photo Galleries

Signs of Tension Signs of Tension

Published on 04/11/2016

Rio: a City in Metamorphosis Rio: a City in Metamorphosis

Published on 11/19/2015

Brazilian Markets

11h37

Bovespa

+0,25% 128.015

16h43

Gold

0,00% 117

11h43

Dollar

+0,13% 4,9866

16h30

Euro

+0,49% 2,65250

ADVERTISING

Olympic Area of Rio Sees Explosion in Dengue Cases

03/04/2016 - 15h55

Advertising

LUCAS VETTORAZZO
FROM RIO DE JANEIRO

Barra da Tijuca and Jacarepaguá, the area in the west of Rio de Janeiro which will host the main events in the upcoming Olympic Games, has registered an explosion in dengue cases since the beginning of the year.

Dengue shot up 600% in January and February, compared to the same period of 2015, with the number of cases increasing from 47 to 329.

This increase was the greatest of the ten areas monitored by Rio's Municipal Health Department. It is also greater than the 332% increase in the city as a whole and the 150% increase in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

The main Olympic sites are found in this area. The Olympic Park, which is located on the border between Barra da Tijuca and Jacarepaguá, will host 16 different sports, including swimming, synchronized swimming, tennis and basketball. The Olympic Village, which will host nearly 15,000 athletes, is adjacent to the Park.

Eduardo Paes, the mayor of Rio, points out that the number of dengue cases tends to fall in August. Nonetheless, there will be at least three test events in the area in March: synchronized swimming (a qualifying event for the Games themselves), judo and golf. The Rio 2016 organizing committee has distributed insect repellent to the delegations.

The Aedes aegypti mosquito also transmits the zika virus, which has been associated with an upsurge in babies born with microcephaly, causing much recent concern amongst the international community.

Translated by TOM GATEHOUSE

Read the article in the original language

Ricardo Moraes - 26.fev.2015/Reuters
An aerial view of the construction site of the Arena of the Future venue at the Rio 2016 Olympic Park
An aerial view of the construction site of the Arena of the Future venue at the Rio 2016 Olympic Park

You have been successfully subscribed. Thanks!

Close

Are you interested in news from Brazil?

Subscribe to our English language newsletter, delivered to your inbox every working day, and keep up-to-date with the most important news from Brazil.

Cancel