RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The small team of state public health workers slalomed between auto parts strewn across a Rio de Janeiro junkyard, looking for standing water where mosquitoes might have laid their eggs.

These were initiatives across the country aimed at controlling the increase of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne illness, during Brazil’s peak tourist season, which ends in February.

At the age of 56, entomologist Paulo Cesar Gomes discovered mosquito larvae swimming in shallow rainwater within a car bumper.

According to him, this specific area is referred to as a strategic point due to the constant influx of items from various locations. He also mentioned that it’s nearly impossible to not have mosquitoes in this area.

Earlier this month, right before the start of the famous Carnival celebrations in Rio, the city, along with several states and the country’s capital, declared a public health emergency due to the unusually high number of dengue cases this year.

According to Ethel Maciel, the head of health surveillance at Brazil’s Health Ministry, there were a higher number of cases in January compared to other years. This statement was made during an interview with The Associated Press.

Up to this point in the current year, Brazil has reported a total of 512,000 cases throughout the country, including both confirmed and probable cases. This is almost four times the number of cases reported during the same time frame last year.

As of this year, there have been 425 deaths being investigated for dengue, out of which 75 have been confirmed. This is in comparison to the total of just over 1,000 deaths in 2023.

Dengue is a virus that is spread to humans when they are bitten by infected mosquitoes. The city of Rio, known for its hot temperatures and frequent rain, is at a higher risk for outbreaks due to the ideal conditions for mosquito breeding and growth.

According to the World Health Organization, individuals who contract dengue may not always experience symptoms, but it can result in elevated body temperature, headaches, body pains, nausea, and a skin rash. While most people recover within a week, some may experience a more serious form of the illness that may lead to hospitalization and even death.

Gomes, a health worker, carefully searched through a junkyard on a hot morning, wearing a mask and plastic gloves. They delicately kicked and shook piles of auto parts, searching for any indication of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, known for spreading dengue.

Gomes always carried a hand pipette in his bag to collect larvae from any standing water he came across. He then placed them in a white plastic container and brought them to a city laboratory for dengue testing, along with any captured mosquitos.

In areas where tests come back positive, health officials will spray a solution that eliminates mosquitoes on walls and continue to observe the area for several weeks.

According to Maciel, an official from the Health Ministry, the initial alert regarding a potential epidemic was issued in September.

The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, or Fiocruz, which is Brazil’s primary research institute supported by the government, has presented various projections suggesting that the country may experience up to 4.2 million cases by the end of this year, a significant increase from the 1.6 million recorded in 2023.

Maciel stated that the increase is a result of extreme heat and heavy rainfall, which could be attributed to climate change or El Niño. El Niño is a natural and temporary phenomenon that causes warming in the Pacific Ocean, leading to changes in weather patterns worldwide.

Maciel mentioned that four different types of dengue virus were circulating simultaneously, including one that had not been observed by authorities in 15 years.

According to health officials, in Rio, over 80% of places where mosquitoes breed can be found in residential properties. Therefore, the first step in fighting against dengue must be taken at home. Mário Sérgio Ribeiro, a health surveillance official for the state of Rio de Janeiro, emphasized the importance of raising awareness.

State authorities introduced a campaign called “10 minutes that save lives” to motivate individuals to check their residences, workplaces, and religious buildings for any stagnant water.

Health professionals and volunteers went from house to house, walking along the small roads of the working-class community of Tabajara in Rio, commonly known as a favela, to share information. They handed out flyers and searched rooftops in search of rainwater containers.

Vilza da Costa, an elderly woman, stated to the AP that she believes she acquired the illness.

“I began experiencing a high temperature, followed by intense itching all over my body, accompanied by weakness and severe pain,” she recounted. “The presence of many mosquitoes in this area has greatly contributed to my suffering.”

Employees in the health sector welcomed visitors with complimentary mosquito repellent during the recently concluded Carnival festivities. A van featuring a large, crossed-out mosquito and the message “Against Dengue Everyday” was prominently featured in the parades on multiple nights, reaching millions of viewers via television broadcasts.

Maciel stated that the impact of Carnival on the spread of dengue will not be evident until a week has passed. While dengue cannot be transmitted directly from one person to another, the influx of tourists during Carnival could potentially contribute to the spread of the disease to previously unaffected areas.

Maciel stated that it is uncertain whether the cases have peaked and are now on a downward trend, or if the worst-case situation is currently unfolding.

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