Dengue fever
UPDATE: 10 facts about dengue fever in Brazil
With the arrival of the tropical summer, dengue fever returns to the headlines. This year’s dengue epidemic is particularly virulent. 2006 registered more than 300.000 cases. This year there have been outbreaks everywhere, with special concern for the one in Campo Grande (Mato Grosso do Sul)
Here I cross-refer you to the text I wrote on disease. And would like to take the opportunity once more to remember to fundamental issues regarding dengue: there is no prophylaxis other than avoiding being biten by the mosquito Aedes aegpyti, carrier of the disease; dengue symptoms appear between three and seven days after the bite, and include discomfort, lack of appetite, headaches and muscular pain, and in the most serious cases, nose bleeding. Red spots on the skin can appear, as well as intense backache.
Visitors to Brazil should try to minimise the risk of mosquito bites by covering up at dawn & dusk, using insect repellent liberally & sleeping under mosquito nets. It is also important for all visitors to Brazil to have travel insurance with comprehensive medical cover.
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This post has 2 comments
November 6th, 2007
hello,
I am a doctor in australia who is trying to get some accurate information re dengue and the risks of haemorrhagic fever in bahia. Is this a problem for travellers who have already had dengue fever.
thanks would be most grateful for any information.
November 7th, 2007
Hi Elise, I’m no health professional so I won’t even try to give you any medical advice.
Dengue is back in force in 2007. From January till September there were 481,000 cases (as opposed to 321,000 in the similar period last year). The Health Minister speaks of “epidemic”.
Bahia is no different from the rest of the country. There have been dengue outbreaks in several towns and villages. The situation is worse inland (hardly visited by tourists), but dengue is present in most regions of the state of Bahia.
As for your specific question on haemorrhagic dengue fever, my understanding is that those who have already had dengue fever should be extremely cautious as they are likely to develop haemorrhagic fever if they caught the disease a second time.
All the best