This figure is the highest since the beginning of the historical dengue epidemic in 2000.

The previous record of dengue deaths occurred in 2023, with 1,094.

The third year with highest number was 2022, with 1,053.

“Unfortunately, people already knew that we would reach this high number of deaths and a record in relation to previous years,” said Alberto Chebabo, president of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases.

Chebado admitted that we have “the largest epidemic in terms of proportions, cases and number of municipalities and states affected in the history of the country and this has certainly translated into a high number of deaths”.

In the same period last year, Brazil recorded 388 dengue deaths in three months.

Plus, to date, as many as 2,963,994 dengue cases have been reported in the first 13 weeks of 2024, an unprecedented figure. In 2023, there were 589,294 cases between weeks one and 13.

For Chebabo, dengue deaths were avoidable and should not occur because treatment “basically means using hydration at the right time so that complications do not occur in most cases”.

Unfortunately, he pointed out, “people did not have a structure in some states and municipalities to avoid a high number of dengue deaths, and this was reflected in the number we are reaching now”.

In February, the Ministry’s Health Surveillance Secretary, Ethel Maciel, stated that her cabinet’s estimate is that the country will report 4.2 million dengue cases this year.

In spite of this, the government claimed that most states have already surpassed the peak of cases.

Despite the scenario, the Health Ministry points out that it is necessary to continue with health surveillance.

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