Dengue fever threat in Brazil

The risk of an outbreak of dengue fever during the upcoming soccer World Cup in Brazil is serious enough to warrant a high alert in three of the 12 host cities, according to an early warning system for the disease.

Scientists who developed the system said the overall threat of the disease during the month-long competition was low, but they warned the north-eastern venues of Natal, Fortaleza and Recifethere faced a serious risk. Dengue, sometimes called breakbone fever because of the pain it can cause, is a viral infection transmitted by a mosquito. It can range from a flu-like illness to a potentially deadly one, which develops in around 5% of patients. There are no vaccines.

Reuters