Dengue outbreak in Brazil

CNN reports that there is a dengue outbreak in Rio de Janeiro, that has already affected 32,000 people [possibly reported dengue fever cases] and claimed at least 47 lives [probably since the start of this year]. The number of deaths is already higher than it was in 2002, the last officially recognized epidemic year. According to the Federal Health Minister, Jose Gomes Temporao, 51 new cases are reported every hour [I can only imagine how much this can overburned the health system]. A crisis center will open today  in Rio state to coordinate response from federal, state government and the armed forces to combat the disease.

Although ProMedMail doesn't have a corresponding report, PAHO has a similar news item with more information. It seems that while the number of dengue cases nationally is 40% less than last year [probably due to a lack of a huge outbreak like last year in Paraguay], the dengue prevalence has more than doubled this year compared to last year in Rio de Janeiro.