Since January, Brazil, a South American country, has reported 1.6 million cases, attributed to factors such as hotter and rainier weather caused by the climate crisis and the emergence of previously non-existent subtypes.
Between January 1st and March 14th, 491 deaths have been registered in the country due to dengue fever. Health authorities are investigating whether 889 other deaths are also linked to this disease.
Another measure taken by the government is for health officials to roam cities, specifically targeting stagnant water containers that facilitate mosquito breeding, either by spraying them with insecticides or disposing of them.
What is Vector Control? According to Ethel Maciel, an official from the Brazilian Ministry of Health, “Our strategies are currently heavily focused on vector control.”
“Vector control” refers to strategies and measures aimed at reducing or controlling populations of disease-carrying organisms.
However, recent changes in the spread of dengue fever and the increase in infection rates are directing the government towards newer technologies with medium-term consequences, such as releasing mosquitoes infected with bacteria that limit the transmission of arboviruses to humans and vaccines.
