This Wednesday (10), Brazil surpassed 3 million probable cases of dengue. The data was released by the Arbovirus Panel of the Ministry of Health, which also confirmed 1,256 deaths due to the disease. Additionally, 1,857 deaths are under investigation.
According to information provided by the ministry, the current dengue incidence rate is 1,508 cases for every 100,000 inhabitants, marking the largest epidemic ever recorded in the country. This rate significantly exceeds the limit established by the World Health Organization (WHO) to consider a situation as an epidemic, which is 300 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants.
In addition to the record number of cases, the number of deaths is also the highest in history. The previous record occurred in 2023, with 1,094 deaths. The third year with the highest number was 2022, with 1,053.
It is worth noting that the numbers reported by the Ministry of Health often do not immediately reflect reality, with there being a delay until they are fully updated. Therefore, it is likely that the current number, reported at 3:37 pm this Wednesday, is even higher.
PREVENTION FORMS
Eliminating mosquito breeding sites remains one of the best ways to prevent the disease. Furthermore, it is worth focusing on physical methods, such as using light clothing, mosquito nets and repellents, especially those based on icaridin, DEET and IR3535, which last longer compared to other types.
Qdenga, a vaccine against dengue manufactured by the Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda, was approved by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) in March 2023. It is the first widely used vaccine against the disease released in the country.
Previously, Anvisa had approved Dengvaxia, Sanofi Pasteur’s vaccine against dengue, but which is only recommended for those who have had previous exposure to the disease.
In July 2023, Qdenga began to be offered by the private network in Brazil and, in December of the same year, it was incorporated into the Unified Health System (SUS). It is the first country in the world to make the vaccine available in the public health network. Due to the limited number of doses, however, initially only a few municipalities received the vaccine to be administered to children and adolescents.
As reported in a report published in early March by Estadão, demand for the vaccine, however, was lower than expected in these locations. Therefore, the doses began to be redistributed, reaching municipalities that, initially, would not receive the vaccine, such as the capital of São Paulo.
It is worth emphasizing that there is still no specific treatment for the disease. But adequate hydration can save lives.
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