Brazil is facing its worst dengue fever outbreak on record, with health officials reporting nearly 5,000 deaths and over 6.4 million probable cases this year – numbers that could rival some Marvel villains' body counts .
The tropical disease has hit hardest in São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Paraná states, where hospitals resemble scenes from zombie apocalypse movies as they struggle with overflowing cases .
While dengue might sound like a rare tropical threat, here's what Gen Z needs to know:
Spread by Aedes mosquitoes (nature's tiny vampires)
Symptoms range from fever-chills combo to dangerous bleeding
Climate change is expanding mosquito territories globally
Travelers take note: This isn't just Brazil's problem. With global warming turning up Earth's thermostat, experts warn these disease-carrying mosquitos could soon be buzzing toward new territories .
Reference(s):
Brazil reports over 4,900 deaths due to dengue fever in 2024
cgtn.com