Italy Responds to Dengue Emergency as Brazil Exceeds 1.5 Million Cases
Rome, 13 March 2024 – Brazil has exceeded the alarming threshold of 1.5 million cases of Dengue, a virus transmitted by infected mosquitoes, leading to 450 confirmed deaths since the beginning of the year. With further investigations underway on over 800 deaths, experts are already warning of the imminent risk of a new pandemic.
Several Brazilian states, including Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Brasilia, have declared a state of emergency as campaigns continue to prevent the proliferation of the Aedes Egypti mosquito, the primary vector for the virus.
In response to the escalating crisis in Brazil, the Ministry of Health in Italy has announced a new circular for a crackdown on controls at ports and airports to prevent the spread of the virus to Europe. Throughout 2023, there were over 1.6 million Dengue patients in Brazil, with nearly 20,000 new infections recorded daily in the first months of 2024.
Professor Paolo Gabrieli, a Zoology expert at the State University of Milan, warns that the trend of vector-borne diseases is expected to increase every summer, potentially leading to the next pandemic. The World Health Organization recommends treating suspected cases of Dengue and chikungunya, as Dengue is considered more lethal.
Travelers are advised to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites in Brazil, particularly in the Federal District and states like Minas Gerais, Espirito Santo, and Sao Paulo. The use of repellents, protective clothing, and avoiding stagnant water are crucial to reduce the risk of infection.
The global community is urged to stay vigilant and take necessary measures to control the spread of Dengue and other mosquito-borne illnesses to prevent a public health crisis.