Brazil – Dengue Fever Precautions

An outbreak of dengue fever – which causes a flu-like illness sometimes complicated by haemorrhages or shock - is currently reported in Paranaguá, Brazil. Members calling at Paranaguá and Antonina should note the information concerning the Dengue outbreak issued by local Health Authorities (ANVIS). Click here to access a copy of the English free translation kindly provided by the Correspondent in Paranaguá, van Herp & Frumento (P&I Services) Ltda. The document includes detailed guidance on the symptoms, prevention and treatment for vessels calling at the Ports of Paranaguá and Antonina.

Additionally, the recommendations of the Brazilian Ministry of Health are:

"In case of trips to areas with risk of Dengue, it is ideal to lodge at places that use protecting screens on doors and windows or air conditioning. The use of clothes that minimize the exposure of the skin during daytime when the mosquitoes are more active provide some protection to the bites of the vectors of dengue. Repellents composed of  DEET, IR3535 or Icaridin can be applied on the exposed skin or over the clothes and their use must be in strict compliance with the instructions on the labels. The use of mosquito nets provides good protection for the ones that sleep during daytime." (click here for full access to the Guidance of the Ministry – please note that the website guidance is in Portuguese).

Dengue fever occurs when the virus is passed onto humans through the bites of an infected Aedes mosquito, the same type of mosquito that has been in the general news as spreading the Zika virus.