Dengue Fever risk in Recife

Dengue Fever Prevention Guide for Recife

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Symptoms include high fever, severe headache, joint and muscle pain, rash, and in serious cases, hemorrhagic complications. No specific antiviral treatment exists, making prevention essential.

Why Recife is at risk: Recife's tropical climate, dense urban population, and frequent flooding create ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes. Stagnant water accumulates in open containers, discarded tires, and poorly maintained drainage systems. The city's warm temperatures year-round mean mosquitoes breed continuously, not just during rainy season. Informal housing areas often lack proper water storage infrastructure, increasing standing water exposure. The risk score of 71 reflects these persistent environmental and socioeconomic conditions.

What you can do to protect yourself and your family:

Eliminate standing water weekly. Empty, scrub, and cover any container that holds water, including plant saucers, buckets, old tires, and water storage tanks. Mosquitoes can breed in as little as a bottle cap of water.

Use insect repellent daily, especially during early morning and late afternoon when Aedes mosquitoes are most active. Apply DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus on exposed skin and reapply as directed.

Install or repair window and screen doors. Use mosquito nets over beds, particularly for children and elderly family members.

Wear long sleeves and long pants when possible, especially in neighborhoods with known dengue cases.

Report areas with accumulated water or mosquito breeding sites to local health authorities. Community cleanup efforts significantly reduce breeding grounds when neighbors participate together.

Stay informed about dengue outbreaks in your neighborhood through local health department alerts and take extra precautions during peak transmission months from March through July.