The number of dengue fever cases in the first two weeks of 2024 was more than double that recorded in the same period last year, according to data from the Ministry of Health. In the first two weeks of this year, there were 232,990 cases of dengue fever in the country in the four first weeks of the year. Six people died from complications from the disease. In the same period in 2023, 65,366 were registered, which reveals a 252% growth in the disease.
2024 is extremely worrying concerning dengue due to the favorable climate due to El Niño, which brings intense heat and lots of rain.
This Content Is Only For Subscribers
To unlock this content, subscribe to INTERLIRA Reports.
Federal District
The Federal District (DF) is the Federation unit with the highest incidence of the disease — 1,108.8 cases per 100 thousand people. In the first four weeks of the year, the DF has already registered 31,236 probable cases of the disease, an increase of more than 1,000% compared to 2023, in addition to seven confirmed deaths.
States on the Rise
A GLOBO survey based on Health data shows that the place with the biggest increase in dengue fever in January 2024 (compared to the same month in 2023) is Rio Grande do Sul, where cases grew by 2,825%.
Following are Santa Catarina (1,668%), and Paraná (1,302%). Completing the list of the ten biggest increases are Rio de Janeiro (1,130%); Federal District (1,032%); Amapá, (493%); Roraima (488%); Minas Gerais (390%); Amazonas (366%) and Acre (355%).
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is experiencing a dengue epidemic and January broke the record for hospitalizations in the historical series, with 362 cases of people hospitalized only in January. The information was given by the city’s mayor, Eduardo Paes, and the municipal secretary of Health, Daniel Soranz. According to information from the Municipal Health Department, there were 22,959 cases throughout 2023. In January 2024, there were 10,156 occurrences.
On Monday (05), Mayor Eduardo Paes (PSD) declared a state of emergency in public health because of dengue fever. Also on Monday, the city hall opened 3 of 10 centers providing care for patients with the virus.
Vaccine
Brazil received on Saturday (20/02) the first batch of dengue vaccines for use by the Unified Health System. The shipment contains 750,000 doses donated by the Japanese laboratory Takeda. According to the government, the first doses will be allocated to teenagers aged 10 to 14 who live in cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants. The definition of the public that will receive the doses considers transmission rates.
According to the ministry, the vaccines will be destined for municipalities with more than 100 thousand inhabitants with high transmission of the disease in the last ten years, also considering high rates in recent months.
What is Qdenga and how does it work?
Qdenga (TAK-003) is an immunizer against dengue developed by the Japanese laboratory Takeda Pharma. The registration of the immunizer was approved by Anvisa in March 2023.
The vaccine contains live attenuated dengue virus. Therefore, it induces immune responses against the four serotypes of the dengue virus.
Brazilian Vaccine The latest phase of testing of a dengue vaccine developed in Brazil showed an overall effectiveness of 79.5% in preventing the disease after a single dose, according to a new study. With the positive result, the researchers intend to submit the vaccine for approval by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) in the second half of 2024.
Source: Folha de São Paulo; G1 [1], [2]; O Globo.
