A medical crisis is erupting in South America. A dengue fever outbreak in Brazil has infected 55,000 people, and killed 67 Brazilians so far this year. Half of those killed by the mosquito-borne illness are under 13-years-old. Victims experience harsh symptoms including, high fever, headaches, joint pain, eye pain, nausea, vomiting, and a rash.
Unfortunately there are not enough doctors to tackle the outbreak. Patients must wait at hospitals for as long as 28 hours. People from the rural areas are flooding the municipal hospitals. Eighty new cases are being diagnosed every hour. The Brazilian military intervened, building three field hospitals trying to address the demand. The situation is so drastic that the governor of Rio de Janeiro may ask Cuba to send doctors.
This is a huge humanitarian crisis! The more time it takes for those infected to get treatment, the more likely the infection will become fatal. If you haven't heard about it yet, are you surprised?
Source
Alexander McQueen
Maine New England
In Puncto
Not surprised once I read why they're having a resurgence of the disease. Why is Cuba the country they're reaching out to-I didn't see any mention of neighboring countries helping, or the World Health Organization or any other international group. I thought they had to jump on an outbreak like this asap.
1Wow, I had not heard anything. Very scary!
2The out break itself is not surprising happens all the time. The fact that the commercial media doesn't cover most of them is not surprising either.
I'm sure they're receiving aid from their neighbors, but the reason they are reaching out to Cuba is because Cuba is famous for sending their very well trained Dr.'s all over the world. They offered to send Dr's here after Katrina but the State Dept. said no way Fidel, we'll manage.
3Can this be spread by air travel?
4I read that the disease is carried by mosquitos and cannot be spread from person to person.
5Oh no! My friend is going to Brazil next month!
6I'm shocked we haven't heard about this:(
7I'm surprised that Brazil hasn't asked for help from America.
8"southeastern Brazilian state"
I live in Brazil. Have so for the last 14 months.
Just in case someone doesn't know, Brazil is a pretty big country, the biggest of latin america. The outbreak is in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Ye, there is an outbreak, and inside the country we are doing everything thats possible to solve the situation. I wont deny that the state's governement is mainly responsible for the situation, in fact in some public health centers the workers are doing anything but paying attention to the diseased.
To the girl who said it cant be spread from person to person, theres is an investion ongoing because a baby apparently was born with dengue: mother was infected.
To the girl whos worried about her friend coming to Brazil: depends exactly on where shes going... she should go to the northeast though, the beaches are VERY pretty over there.
And to the one thats surprised about asking help to America... please refer to your country as United States, America is a continent... And I dont see why should Brazil do that, theres plenty of other countries around...
9Thanks for the update RV, and I'll make sure I say US when I refer to the country.
10New update:
11dengue is spreading statewise
Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.