Rio fights outbreak of dengue fever

Rio de Janeiro on Monday has declared a public health emergency because of an outbreak of mosquito-borne dengue fever, the city announced Monday.

Since the beginning of 2024, the municipality has registered more than 10,000 dengue cases.

The outbreak wasn’t expected to derail Carnival, which starts Friday and runs until Feb. 14, but it has prompted a slew of special measures in hopes of containing the illness.

Rio city hall announced the opening of 10 care centers, the creation of an emergency operations center and the allocation of hospital beds for dengue patients.

Authorities also will use “smoke cars” diffusing an insecticide in the air.