Dengue and Zika cases in Brazil fall, but chikungunya cases rise

Dengue and Zika cases fell in Brazil, while chikungunya rose in 2021, all compared to the same period last year. Data from the Ministry of Health were presented during the launch of the campaign to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Dengue cases fell by 46.6% from January to November this year, compared to the same period last year. 494,992 cases were reported this year and 927,060 in 2020.

The total number of deaths from the disease was reduced by 62%. In 2021, there were 212 and, in 2020, 564.

Despite the country registering a downward trend in the number of cases, 12 states showed growth. Among them, those with the greatest variation were Amapá, Alagoas and Rio Grande do Sul.

Regarding chikungunya cases, the number of notifications rose in 2021 compared to the same period last year. This year, from January to November 20, there were 92,066 cases, an increase of 30.8% compared to the previous year. There were ten deaths in 2021.

All regions showed an increase in notifications, with the highest incidence being registered in the Southeast. According to data from the Ministry of Health, the three states that registered the most cases of the disease were Pernambuco, São Paulo, and Paraíba.

Among the main arboviruses in urban circulation, dengue, chikungunya and Zika, the latter was the only one that did not result in deaths in 2021.

In all, 5,710 probable cases of the disease were registered, a decrease of 17.6% compared to the same period in 2020.

Arnaldo Medeiros, Secretary of Health Surveillance at the Ministry of Health, highlighted that the campaign will last 30 days. He highlighted that it is necessary to fight the Aedes aegypti mosquito in order to be able to control the diseases linked to this vector.

“Brazil has been decreasing, as stated, in a general way in the general scope the so-called arboviruses from 2020 to 2021, but as it was shown some states have called our concern. That’s why we need to be attentive, vigilant to guarantee each time more quality health,” he stressed.