July 10, 2009 10:04 AM

Dengue Fever Cases Down 50 Percent In Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, July 10 (Bernama) -- Brazil's Health Minister Jose Gomes Temporao announced Thursday that the number of dengue fever cases in the country fell 50 percent in the first half of 2009 compared with the same period last year, China's Xinhua news agency reported.

According to the minister, the number of deaths due to dengue fever also fell. Between Jan. 1 and June 13, Brazil registered 131 deaths, down 70 percent from the 436 deaths in the same period in 2008.

Rio de Janeiro state, which had an epidemic of dengue fever in 2008, registered the sharpest fall in the number of cases, down 96 percent. In Rio Grande do Norte state, the number of dengue fever cases fell 93 percent in the first half of the year.

Seven states registered an increase in the number of cases, compared with the first half of 2008. These states have 56 percent of the dengue fever cases in the country.

Temporao attributed the increase of cases to the change of governments, which took place in January.

The minister also announced that the government will use the internet to combat the dengue fever.

As it is happening with A/H1N1 flu, the ministry will maintain an updated report of the cases online, as well as use social networks such as Orkut and Twitter to help spread information on the measures to avoid the disease.

-- BERNAMA

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