Brazil reports 573 deaths from dengue this year

At least 573 people have died from dengue in Brazil so far this year, nearly twice the figure reported in 2012, according to official figures released Wednesday.

Last year, 292 deaths were recorded and 473 in 2011, according to the health ministry.

The highest death toll was in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais (116), followed by Sao Paulo state (72), Goias (58), Ceara in the northeast (54) and Rio de Janeiro state (48).

The total number of serious cases reported so far this year reached 6,566, leading authorities in 157 cities to declare a state of alert, including in Rio, Manaus, Salvador and Fortaleza, host cities for next year's World Cup.

Brazil is frequently afflicted with the disease, which is caused by four strains the virus that are spread by the mosquito Aedes aegypti.

Dengue affects between 50 and 100 million people in the tropics and subtropics each year, causing fever, muscle and joint ache as well as potentially fatal dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome.

There is no vaccine, which is why scientists are focusing so intensely on mosquito control.

But last month, Brazilian scientists began clinical tests on humans of a new vaccine against the four strains of the dengue virus.

© 2013 AFP