Fiocruz: after record deaths from dengue, Brazil must focus on prevention

Fiocruz scientists defend importance of dengue prevention and early detection campaigns, after record deaths from disease in Brazil in 2022

For the first time, Brazil has recorded more than 1,000 dengue deaths in one year since 2015. According to data from the Ministry of Health, 1,016 deaths associated with the disease were recorded in 2022. To control the effects of this type of arbovirus — a virus transmitted by mosquitoes — in the population, researchers from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation ( Fiocruz) warn of the importance of preventive measures and access to health.

• What are the differences between dengue, zika and chikungunya?
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It is worth remembering that dengue symptoms can be confused with other diseases, including covid-19, such as fever, headache and body aches, malaise and weakness. However, this difficulty in diagnosis should not prevent access to adequate treatment, which can save lives.

When does dengue kill in Brazil?

“If we look at the data before the pandemic [da covid-19]we noticed that, during the increase in dengue cases, the number of deaths still remained in smaller proportions, as patients were diagnosed more quickly and, consequently, treated appropriately,” says Denise Valle, from the Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Flavivirus by the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC/Fiocruz), in a statement.

Death from dengue is usually caused by a late diagnosis. “The lethality of dengue is associated with delays in the identification and treatment of the disease,” Valle said. For this year it is necessary to win the challenge, returning to the pre-pandemic level of service.

How to control dengue cases in 2023?

In total, the Ministry of Health recorded 1.4 million possible cases of dengue in 2022. Increases of 78.9% and 42% in cases of dengue were identified during the same period. chikungunya and zika, respectively, compared to the previous year. All three diseases are transmitted by the same vector: the mosquito Aedes aegypti.

It is known that the number of general cases of dengue is directly influenced by the number of mosquitoes circulating in the region. Therefore, the best strategy is to prevent broadcast agents from reproducing, by raising public awareness with public campaigns.

“These numbers could decrease from this year onwards with societal dynamics similar to the pre-pandemic period. However, this will only happen if we also recover our awareness actions on the aedes aegypti‘, says Rafaela Bruno, head of the Insect Molecular Biology Laboratory at the IOC.

Source: Fiocruz Agency

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Camila

Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.