Due to the significant increase in dengue cases across the country, the Ministry of Health has announced the establishment of the COE Arboviroses (Emergency Operations Center), which will track deaths and severe cases of dengue, Zika and chikungunya in the country.

The Council of Europe will provide recommendations for monitoring actions in cooperation with states and municipalities. – Photo: pixnio/Disclosure/ND

The COE will focus mainly on dengue and chikungunya records, providing guidelines for surveillance activities with states and municipalities, according to the ministry.

Prevention of Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya

One of the most effective ways to prevent these mosquito-borne diseases is to prevent standing water from accumulating in tires, bottles, plant pots, and other containers where mosquitoes breed.

Here are some suggestions: cover water barrels, keep gutters clean, leave bottles upside down, clean and sand potted plants, keep trash cans closed, clear drains, and install screens on windows.

All three diseases have similar symptoms such as high fever, body aches and malaise.

2023 numbers

For dengue fever alone, there were 301,800 suspected cases this year. The figures represent an increase of 43.8% compared to the same period in 2022.

Severe cases account for up to 2,900 records, and 73 deaths from the disease were counted in 2023.

The region most affected is the Midwest, with 254.3 cases per 100,000 residents. Then comes the southeast with 214.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

The Southern Region has 98.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

The states with the highest incidence are Espirito Santo, Mato Grosso do Sul and Minas Gerais.

Chikungunya has the largest increase in incidence since 2022.

Among the three mosquito-borne diseases aedes aegyptichikungunya was the one with the highest increase in cases since 2022.

Probable notifications according to the classification of the ministry increased by 97.1%, amounting to 43 thousand at the beginning of the year. One death has been confirmed in the state of Espirito Santo and 13 others are under investigation.

Zeke’s entries rose from 883 to 1,194 in 2023 when comparing the first two months of the year to the same period in 2022.

The north of the country has the highest proportion of cases: 2.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Tocantins reappears as the state with the most cases relative to population in 2023.