Brazil: Rio de Janeiro Declares Health Emergency After Massive Dengue Outbreak Just Before Carnival

February means it is already Carnival season in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. However, the Carnival may get a bit complicated as a dengue outbreak is gripping the city. It got so bad that a state of emergency has been declared.

Over 10,000 cases of dengue fever have been registered since the year began, sparking a healthcare crisis in the city that is currently bracing for an influx of visitors as Carnival approaches. Dengue is a viral disease caused by mosquito bites and has proven fatal for many.

The world-famous event is scheduled to happen from February 10-14. It will proceed as planned despite the health emergency, according to BNN, with the city government of Rio de Janeiro already taking several precautions to lower the rate of infection.

These measures include opening at least ten healthcare centers, as well as an emergency operations center. The city has also added more hospital beds allocated for dengue patients, as well as employed "smoke cars" to diffuse insecticide in the regions that have been affected by the dengue outbreak the most in an effort to contain the mosquitoes spreading the virus.

In addition, the city's operations for the annual Carnival have also launched a new campaign called "Against Dengue Everyday." This involves distributing repellents and educational materials at the Carnival venues.

Brazil Facing Massive Dengue Outbreak, Not Just in Rio de Janeiro

While the focus on the dengue outbreak is on Rio de Janeiro right now because of Carnival, many parts of Brazil are also dealing with the disease, with outbreaks being reported in at least four other states, including Acre, Minas Gerais, and Goias.

All these states, as well as the Federal District of Brazil, have declared health emergencies amid the deadly dengue fever outbreaks. This includes the Federal District building a field hospital to deal with the situation, with the Brazilian Air Force providing around 60 beds in Ceilandia to help treat patients.

"Our objective is to relieve emergency care units in the region, given that today the Federal District accounts for around 20% of dengue cases in the country," Brazil Air Force Commander Lt. Brig. Marcelo Kanitz Damascene said in a statement to the Associated Press.

Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes also called on residents to eliminate sources of still water, which mosquitoes often use as breeding grounds, "Unlike the COVID-19 pandemic, in which individual citizens couldn't do much more than demand that governments get the vaccine, in the case of dengue much depends on the action of each citizen," he told citizens.

Dogs in Rio de Janeiro Also Celebrated Carnival Ahead of Actual Event

Meanwhile, as the city is grappling with a deadly dengue outbreak, dogs around the city are going viral in a different sort of way.

Pet owners across the city have created a doggy version of Carnival ahead of the actual Carnival event, with canines across the city joining a massive doggy parade in Copacabana Beach, to the delight of tourists.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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