Dengue Fever Spreads Rapidly in Brazil as Mosquitoes Thrive in Hot and Humid Conditions

Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro Belize
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease that has been spreading rapidly in Brazil.
Rising temperatures associated with climate change have contributed to an expansion of the disease into southernmost region of Brazil, which was once too cold for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which thrives in hot and humid conditions, is laying its eggs in stagnant water found everywhere from discarded tyres to flower vases. There is no specific treatment for dengue disease that can cause fever and body aches and death.
Dengue Fever Spreads Rapidly in Brazil as Mosquitoes Thrive in Hot and Humid Conditions

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease that has been spreading rapidly in Brazil. The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which thrives in hot and humid conditions, is laying its eggs in stagnant water found everywhere from discarded tyres to flower vases. There is no specific treatment for dengue disease that can cause fever and body aches and death. Rising temperatures associated with climate change have contributed to an expansion of the disease into southernmost region of Brazil, which was once too cold for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.


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Confidence

80%

Doubts
  • It's not clear if there are any other factors contributing to the spread of dengue fever in Brazil besides climate change.

Sources

70%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

In Rio, rife with dengue, bacteria-infected mosquitoes are making a difference

The Associated Press News Saturday, 02 March 2024 16:07
  • Unique Points
    • The Wolbachia strategy was pioneered over the last decade by World Mosquito Program and it provides an appealing alternative at a time when U.N health agency warns that reported cases of dengue globally increased tenfold over the last generation
    • In Niteroi, Mayor Axel Grael sought help after 2012 dengue epidemics and sealed a partnership with Fiocruz Institute, World Mosquito Program and Health Ministry to combat dengue
  • Accuracy
    • Rio de Janeiro declared a public health emergency after an outbreak of dengue fever last month
    • Brazil is experiencing a record dengue surge in 2024 with over one million cases registered in the first two months.
    • The Qdenga vaccine against dengue has been rolled out by Brazil, but it's too modest to solve the immediate crisis as only few people are being vaccinated.
  • Deception (50%)
    The article is deceptive in that it presents Niteroi as a success story when the reality is more complex. The low incidence rate of dengue in Niteroi can be attributed to factors other than the Wolbachia strategy such as better sanitation and access to healthcare. Additionally, while the pilot program launched in 2015 has been successful, it does not provide a complete solution for eradicating dengue. The article also fails to disclose that there have been cases of dengue reported in Niteroi since the launch of the Wolbachia strategy.
    • The low incidence rate of dengue in Niteroi can be attributed to factors other than the Wolbachia strategy such as better sanitation and access to healthcare. The article fails to disclose this fact.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains an appeal to authority by citing the World Mosquito Program as a source of information. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the dangers of dengue fever and its impact on people's lives. Additionally, there is no evidence presented in the article that supports or refutes any claims made about the effectiveness of Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes in preventing dengue transmission.
    • Bias (85%)
      The article is biased towards the Wolbachia strategy as a solution to dengue. The author mentions that Niteroi has had just 403 suspected cases of dengue so far this year and its incidence rate per capita is one of the lowest in the state, with 69 confirmed cases per 100,00 people. By comparison, Rio de Janeiro has an incidence rate of 700 per 100,0 people. The author then goes on to mention that Niteroi's low incidence is due to a pilot program launched in 2915 which breeds mosquitoes carrying the Wolbachia bacteria. This creates a false sense of security and implies that the Wolbachia strategy is an effective solution for dengue, when it may not be as effective as other methods.
      • The article mentions Niteroi's low incidence rate per capita compared to Rio de Janeiro. This creates a false sense of security and implies that the Wolbachia strategy is an effective solution for dengue.
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
        The article discusses a pilot program launched in Niteroi in 2015 that aimed to control the spread of dengue by introducing Wolbachia bacteria into mosquito populations. The author mentions their affiliation with Fiocruz Institute and World Mosquito Program, which could be seen as potential conflicts of interest given these organizations' involvement in the pilot program.
        • The article discusses a pilot program launched in Niteroi in 2015 that aimed to control the spread of dengue by introducing Wolbachia bacteria into mosquito populations. The author mentions their affiliation with Fiocruz Institute and World Mosquito Program, which could be seen as potential conflicts of interest given these organizations' involvement in the pilot program.
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        66%

        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

        Brazil's record dengue surge: why a vaccine campaign is unlikely to stop it

        Nature Magazine Lenharo, Mariana Sunday, 03 March 2024 11:37
        • Unique Points
          • Brazil is experiencing a record dengue surge in 2024 with over one million cases registered in the first two months.
          • The Qdenga vaccine against dengue has been rolled out by Brazil, but it's too modest to solve the immediate crisis as only few people are being vaccinated.
          • Climate change and rapid urban growth are contributing factors to the surge of dengue cases in Brazil.
          • Adequate sanitation infrastructure often fails to keep pace with city growth leading to breeding grounds for mosquitoes such as uncollected rubbish and water stored by people without regular access to tap water.
          • The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which thrives in hot and humid conditions, is laying its eggs in stagnant water found everywhere from discarded tyres to flower vases. There is no specific treatment for dengue disease that can cause fever and body aches and death.
          • Rising temperatures associated with climate change have contributed to an expansion of the disease into southernmost region of Brazil, which was once too cold for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. An El Niño event intensifying heat and rainfall is further contributing to the surge in dengue cases.
          • The Aedes aegypti mosquito seems to be adapting to adverse conditions, studies show that it is now able to reproduce even in puddles and sewers1.
          • Limited natural immunity is also contributing to the surge as Dengue virus causes four distinct viral subtypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4) which many Brazilians are vulnerable to.
          • The Qdenga vaccine has an overall efficacy of 73% against symptomatic dengue but results were more promising against DENV-1 and DENV-2 than for DENV-3.
          • Brazil's public health system is administering a vaccine called Qdenga, made by Takeda in Osaka, Japan. The first stage of the campaign targets 10 to 11 year old children but will expand to include children up to age 14 years old who are most likely to be hospitalized other than elderly people.
          • Vaccine availability is a big challenge as Brazil's Ministry of Health says it has acquired all available doses made by Takeda and the quantity is limited by manufacturer capacity.
          • Complete immunization requires two doses with a three-month interval between them which might complicate vaccine adherence.
          • The World Mosquito Program plans to build a massive mosquito factory in partnership with Oswaldo Cruz Foundation over the next ten years to release genetically modified mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia bacterium, which reduces insect's capacity to transmit some viruses.
          • Solving basic sanitation problems continues to be essential step in overcoming dengue as vaccines and other technologies are important auxiliary tools.
        • Accuracy
          • Brazil is experiencing a record dengue surge in 2024 with over one million cases registered in the first two months.
        • Deception (50%)
          The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that Brazil has become the first country to roll out a public vaccination campaign against dengue. However, this statement is false as other countries have also launched similar campaigns before Brazil.
          • Brazil has become the first country to roll out a public vaccination campaign against dengue.
        • Fallacies (75%)
          The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that the Qdenga vaccine has been approved for use in Brazil without providing any evidence or context about its effectiveness or safety. Additionally, the author cites a study conducted by Butantan Institute in São Paulo, Brazil as having demonstrated an overall efficacy of 80% against symptomatic dengue with a single dose. However, this claim is not supported by any evidence provided in the article and it's unclear if the study was conducted on DENV-3 or DENV-4 subtypes which are currently circulating in Brazil. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when stating that
          • Bias (85%)
            The article discusses the dengue surge in Brazil and how a public vaccination campaign is being implemented to combat it. However, there are several examples of bias present in the article that undermine its credibility.
            • <https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-07979>
              • The article mentions that the limited public distribution of the vaccine will only protect those who have been vaccinated, which is not a complete solution to the dengue crisis.
                • > The first two months of 2024 registered more than one million cases of dengue, which is a record for this period and Brazil's dengue cases normally peak between March and May (see <https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-07979>).
                • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                  The article discusses the dengue surge in Brazil and mentions several topics related to it such as mosquito-borne disease, climate change, urban growth and sanitation infrastructure. The author is affiliated with multiple institutions including Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul in Campo Grande, Brazil; Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts and has a personal relationship with Ana Lúcia de Oliveira who is also affiliated with Federal University of Lavras, Brazil.
                  • The article discusses how climate change may be contributing to an increase in mosquito populations which could lead to more cases of dengue, however there are no examples given that demonstrate a conflict of interest on this topic.
                    • The article mentions that the Ministry of Health of Brazil is working on developing a vaccine for dengue but it does not mention any financial ties or personal relationships between the author and this institution.
                    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                      The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of dengue as they are affiliated with several organizations that have a vested interest in researching and combating dengue. The article mentions the Ministry of Health of Brazil, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Federal University Lavras in Campo Grande, Brazil and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston Massachusetts which are all organizations that have a vested interest in researching dengue.
                      • The article mentions Federal University Lavras in Campo Grande, Brazil
                        • The article mentions Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
                          • The article mentions the Ministry of Health of Brazil

                          74%

                          The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                          (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                          A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                          Brazil rolls out dengue vaccines as cases rise sharply

                          Financial Times Sunday, 03 March 2024 11:44
                          • Unique Points
                            • The article is about the rollout of dengue vaccines in Brazil and the increase in cases.
                            • There are different subscription options available for accessing FT journalism, including a yearly plan that provides complete digital access to quality FT journalism on any device.
                          • Accuracy
                            • Rio de Janeiro declared a public health emergency after an outbreak of dengue fever last month
                            • Daily hundreds of city health workers are sent to survey neighborhoods in Niteroi looking for standing water where mosquitoes could lay their eggs
                          • Deception (100%)
                            None Found At Time Of Publication
                          • Fallacies (0%)
                            The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy. The author cites the Brazilian government as a source of information without providing any evidence or context for their claims.
                            • >Subscribe to unlock this article
                          • Bias (100%)
                            None Found At Time Of Publication
                          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                            None Found At Time Of Publication
                          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                            None Found At Time Of Publication

                          71%

                          The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                          (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                          A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                          Brazil Dengue

                          Killeen Daily Herald Bruna Prado Friday, 01 March 2024 20:20
                          • Unique Points
                            • The Aedes aegypti mosquito can spread dengue.
                            • Niteroi has had just 403 suspected cases of dengue so far this year and its incidence rate per capita is one of the lowest in the state.
                          • Accuracy
                            • Niteroi has had just 403 suspected cases of dengue so far this year with incidence rate per capita being one of the lowest in the state
                            • Daily hundreds of city health workers are sent to survey neighborhoods in Niteroi looking for standing water where mosquitoes could lay their eggs.
                            • The Qdenga vaccine against dengue has been rolled out by Brazil, but it's too modest to solve the immediate crisis as only few people are being vaccinated.
                          • Deception (50%)
                            The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that Niteroi has had just 400 suspected cases of dengue so far this year and its incidence rate per capita is one of the lowest in the state. However, they do not provide any evidence to support these claims.
                            • The article does not provide any data or statistics to back up their claim that Niteroi has had just 400 suspected cases of dengue so far this year and its incidence rate per capita is one of the lowest in the state.
                          • Fallacies (100%)
                            None Found At Time Of Publication
                          • Bias (75%)
                            The article contains an example of religious bias. The author mentions that the pilot program in Niteroi breeds mosquitoes to carry a particular bacteria which is used to eradicate dengue. This implies that there may be other methods for controlling the spread of dengue, but this specific method is being promoted as superior due to its religious significance.
                            • Bruna Prado - stringer, ASSOCIATED PRESS As featured on In Rio, rife with dengue, bacteria-infected mosquitoes are making a difference Since Rio de Janeiro declared a public health emergency after an outbreak of dengue fever last month, the city has ramped up testing capacities, opened up a dozen of dengue health centers and trained medical staff to attend the ever-growing needs of its population. But in Rio's sister city of Niteroi, just across the Guanabara Bay, things are different. Home to about half a million people, Niteroi has had just 400 suspected cases of dengue so far this year, and its incidence rate per capita is one of the lowest in the state. Health officials credit a pilot program which breeds mosquitoes to carry a particular bacteria.
                            • Site Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                              The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of dengue as they are an Aedes aegypti mosquitoes stringer for Associated Press.
                              • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                                None Found At Time Of Publication