Dengue transmission will be at its highest during the world cup in June. Brazil was reported to have over a million cases of Dengue Fever last year. The infectious disease is slowly becoming a global burden and this summer is thought to provide the highest number of cases yet. The increase in infection rates indicate how difficult it is to control the Dengue vector. Management strategies in Brazil including the use of chemical control does not seem to be having the desired effect on the Dengue vector. Bellow is a graph to illustrate the severity of the disease;
http://www.oxitec.com/health/dengue-information-centre/brazil-dengue-case-study/
The tropical seasonal climate of Brazil provides the optimum conditions for Aedes aegypti to breed. Brazil has a population of 192.9 million, a large portion of the population live in conurbations including Rio de Janeiro and Salvador. As mosquitoes thrive in areas that are densely populated with stagnant water these cities provide the optimum conditions for Aedes aegypti to thrive.
How is Brazil preparing for the world cup?
Currently there are 6 dengue fever vaccines candidates at various stages of clinical trials but non are commercially available. Educating travelers of the precautions that should be undertaken is currently the best option.
"Fifa, the Brazilian authorities and the World Cup sponsors must use their influence and experience to communicate the risk." says Prof Simon Hay, of Oxford University.
With travelers expected to arrive in the Dengue endemic country in two months time, are these efforts a little too late?
http://www.oxitec.com/health/dengue-information-centre/brazil-dengue-case-study/
http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/21292885/reload=0;jsessionid=SzaJQN96cQdZAzTFODv8.20
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1253857/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-25118849
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