Brazilian military helps Rio combat dengue fever outbreak

Brazil's military has pulled up its socks to combat an outbreak of dengue fever that seems to keep on rising at a very steady pace, with no sign of slowing. The armed forces will help the health authorities in Brazilian city Rio de Janeiro to combat the outbreak of dengue fever, the Defense Ministry said.

The Defense Ministry’s move came after the Brazilian health authorities on Sunday release the fresh report on mosquito-borne illness, saying the death toll from dengue fever in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has rose to 49, half of them are children under 14, 24.

This infectious disease has so far infected 36,000 people in Rio de Janeiro state and engulfed at least 49 lives so far. The 49th victim was a 12-year-old boy, the health authorities said on Sunday.

Dengue, the acute febrile disease transmitted to humans by the mosquito Aedes aegypti, is manifested by a sudden onset of fever, with severe headache, muscle and joint pains and rashes; there may also be gastritis with some combination of associated abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

Public hospitals in the northern and western districts of the Rio city were overwhelmed by the vast majority of victims seeking treatment at the weekend. Hospital authorities in the city are trying hard to cope with the problems.

“The dengue mosquito infection in Rio shows an alarming situation and more concrete action has to be taken,” health minister Jose Gomes said.

According to the defense ministry, Army, Air Force and Navy commanders are due to propose an action plan to Defense Minister Nelson Jobim as early as Monday, explaining how to fight the disease in the city.

Jobim said on Friday that under the anti-dengue strategy the armed forces may set up field hospitals in the city, and army will be mobilized to eliminate the disease-spreading mosquitoes.

Dengue fever is an acute febrile disease, found in the tropics, with a geographical spread similar to malaria. Dengue is transmitted to humans by the mosquito Aedes aegypti, which breeds in still water, and is caused by four closely related viruses: DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4. Aedes mosquitoes usually bite during the day.

There is no specific treatment or vaccine to treat the disease.

This disease is also known to some as "break-bone" fever because it sometimes causes severe joint and muscle pain that feels like bones are breaking,

Health officials are urging residents of Rio de Janeiro to protect themselves from mosquito bites by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and shoes when outside as well as using lots of mosquito repellant containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.