Rio de Janeiro declares dengue health emergency days before Carnival
RIO DE JANEIRO — Rio de Janeiro has declared a public health emergency as a result of an outbreak of dengue fever.
According to The Associated Press, the city – in its official gazette on Monday – made the announcement just days before Carnival celebrations are set to kick off across Brazil. The outbreak, however, isn’t expected to affect the Carnival schedule.
In response to the outbreak, Rio city hall reportedly announced the opening of 10 care centres, the creation of an emergency operations centre and the allocation of hospital beds for dengue patients.
Authorities have also indicated that they will also use “smoke cars” to diffuse an insecticide in regions with the highest incidence of cases.
AP News reports that since the beginning of 2024, the municipality has registered more than 10,000 dengue cases.
Dengue is a viral infection transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes..