Brazil: City in São Paulo state orders dengue epidemic

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – With an average of 30 new cases of dengue fever per day, the city of Votuporanga in the interior of São Paulo has declared an epidemic state.

Since January, 3,040 dengue cases have been registered in the city of about 96,000 inhabitants, and another 1,830 are under investigation. During the same period, two deaths were confirmed in the municipality: two men, one 75 and the other 59 years old, who suffered from the disease.

Dengue is a disease caused by a virus transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

The decree published yesterday (4) in the Official Gazette allows the municipality to streamline procedures for the purchase and hiring of personnel or equipment to strengthen dengue control measures.

The decree also asks property owners to clean up their properties, gardens, and sidewalks within 30 days and remove any waste that may become breeding sites for animals or insects harmful to humans. Those who fail to comply with the measure will be fined. The decree is valid for 180 days.

SÃO JOSÉ DO RIO PRETO

Another inland city in São Paulo where many cases of dengue fever were registered at the beginning of the year is São José do Rio Preto. In the city, 5,958 dengue cases have been reported so far this year, of which 2,741 have been confirmed. São José do Rio Preto has also confirmed two deaths from the disease in February.

In the city of São Paulo, 1,070 cases have been confirmed through March 30, with no deaths. Last year, 825 dengue cases were confirmed in the capital during the same period, also with no deaths.

Across São Paulo state, 24,900 dengue cases and 11 deaths have already been confirmed between January and March this year, according to the state health department. In 2021, 43,200 dengue cases and 16 deaths were recorded during the same period.

In the first three months of the year, 80 cases of chikungunya were registered throughout the state of São Paulo, with no deaths. Last year, 5.7 thousand cases and three deaths were confirmed between January and March.

BRAZIL

According to the latest epidemiological bulletin from the Ministry of Health, 258,917 probable dengue cases were registered in Brazil between January 2 and March 26, a 72.1% increase over the same period last year.

Votuporanga is the fourth municipality in Brazil with the highest number of dengue cases, after Goiânia, Brasília, and Palmas. In fifth place is the city of São José do Rio Preto. Since the beginning of this year, the Ministry has confirmed 70 deaths from dengue fever.

SYMPTOMS

Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya are diseases transmitted by the same mosquito and have similar symptoms such as fever, headache, and red spots on the body.

A few symptoms distinguish one disease from the other. In dengue fever, pain usually occurs behind the eyes. Chikungunya can cause pain and swelling in the joints. Zika, on the other hand, can cause mild fever and redness of the eyes.

To control the mosquitoes that transmit these three diseases, people need to keep their surroundings and containers clean and free of water accumulation.

The main preventive measures are:

• keep the water tank tightly closed and clean it regularly;
• remove items that accumulate water from backyards;
• take care of garbage and keep materials to be recycled in a sealed bag and in a covered place;
• avoid using trays for plant pots or use a tray that is better adapted to the pot.