Severe epidemic More than six million dengue cases in Brazil

More than 4000 people have already died this year in the South American country's most severe dengue epidemic to date. But there is hope: transmission has slowed recently.

The most severe dengue outbreak in Brazil's history continues. Since the beginning of the year, more than 6 million confirmed and probable infections with the dengue virus have been registered in the South American country, according to the Ministry of Health. During the previous largest epidemic in 2015, around 1.6 million dengue cases were counted throughout the year.

According to the figures, a total of 4019 deaths due to dengue infection have been confirmed - compared to 1179 for the whole of last year. A further 2837 suspected cases are currently being investigated.

Blood type and beer consumption are decisiveMosquitoes particularly like to fly on this blood type

Transmission is slowing down

However, the data also shows that the disease peaked in March with more than 1.7 million cases and has been declining since then. In April, the number remained high at almost 1.6 million cases - from May onwards, transmission slowed to around 990,000 cases.

The trigger for the increase is likely to have been the heavy rainfall and high temperatures in recent months. Under these conditions, the yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti), which transmits the dengue virus, can develop particularly well.

Dengue fever - sometimes called "breakbone disease" because of the pain - is widespread in the tropics and subtropics. Not everyone infected falls ill, but the course of the disease is often mild.

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