Probable dengue cases approach 400,000 in Brazil in 2024
The Ministry of Health in Brazil has reported 392,724 probable cases of dengue so far this year, with 54 confirmed deaths attributed to the disease. An additional 273 fatalities are under investigation for possible dengue-related causes.
According to the ministry's Monitoring Panel, women account for 54.9 percent of the reported cases, with over 143,200 cases concentrated in the 30-49 age group.
The explosion of dengue cases in various regions of the country has prompted the states of Acre, Minas Gerais, and Goiás, as well as the Federal District, to declare a state of public health emergency. The municipality of Rio de Janeiro has also declared a state of emergency.
It is estimated that Brazil could see more than 4.1 million cases by the end of 2024.
Minas Gerais currently leads in reported cases with 135,716, followed by São Paulo (61,873), the Federal District (48,657), Paraná (44,200), and Rio de Janeiro (28,327). In terms of incidence rate per 100,000 inhabitants, the Federal District has the highest rate at 1,727.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Minas Gerais (660.8) and Acre (539.1).
The critical situation in the Federal District has led local authorities to advance the start of vaccination to this Friday (9).
Nationwide, vaccine doses are being distributed to 521 selected municipalities identified by the Ministry of Health as endemic for dengue. These municipalities, spread across 37 health regions, will begin vaccination in the public health network. In this initial phase, children and adolescents between the ages of 10 and 14 will be vaccinated, as this age group has shown the highest number of hospitalizations due to dengue, second only to the elderly.
Addressing the nation on Tuesday evening (6), Minister of Health Nísia Trindade urged the population to take precautions to prevent the spread of mosquito breeding sites in their homes. According to the minister, 75 percent of breeding sites are found in homes.
