Brazil faces unprecedented dengue fever crisis
Brazil is currently experiencing a severe outbreak of dengue fever, with a staggering 5.5 million cases reported this year alone. Dengue fever, a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes, can lead to high fevers, skin rashes, and in severe cases, even death.
Experts attribute the surge in dengue cases to rising temperatures caused by climate change and the El Niño weather phenomenon. This has created ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes, the carriers of the disease, in regions that were previously considered low-risk areas.
The situation has become so dire that even traditionally mosquito-free regions like North America and Europe are now at risk of dengue outbreaks. In preparation for the upcoming Olympic Games, authorities in Paris have implemented measures such as deploying “dengue detectives” to monitor mosquito populations.
Health officials have also raised concerns about the possibility of invasive mosquito species making their way to the UK by 2050, highlighting the urgent need for global action to combat the spread of dengue fever and other mosquito-borne diseases.