There are more than a million spectators expected to travel to 12 different cities in Brazil during the football World Cup, June 12 – July 13, 2014 and the risk of the mosquito-transmitted disease dengue fever is an increasing concern, says a recent analysis published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
They say that the risk is high enough in three certain areas, in particular Natal, Fortaleza and Recife, to warrant a high-alert warning to those travelling to these specific parts of Brazil.
The Lancet also predicts that there is also some chance of dengue risk exceeding medium levels in Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Salvador and Manaus. However, the risk of dengue fever is low in Brasilia, Cuiaba, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, and Sao Paulo.
Dengue Fever, also known as break bone fever, is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles. It can cause life-threatening illness and there are currently no licensed vaccines or treatments.
The researchers say being able to plan in advance can give local authorities the time to implement measures to reduce or contain epidemics in their areas and to deal with the mosquito populations there.
ISEH partner UCLH recently hosted a ‘World Cup fever’ webchat on avoiding and treating tropical diseases.
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