Brazil: São Paulo reports more than 100,000 dengue cases in January, but deaths are most surprising

In the first month of 2025, São Paulo state, in southeast Brazil, has recorded 100,025 probable dengue fever cases, with 45,000 already confirmed, up from almost 50,000 probable cases in the first four weeks of 2024; however, it is the dengue fatalities that has taken officials by surprise.

To date, health officials in São Paulo state have reported 29 confirmed deaths and another 138 under investigation, out of 200 nationally.

Venâncio noted, “if we consider the possibility that two-thirds of these deaths under investigation [in the state of São Paulo] will be confirmed, we will be at a level of approximately 800 to 900 cases for each death, which is very high.”

The deputy secretary of Health and Environmental Surveillance at the Ministry of Health, Rivaldo Venâncio, said this Friday that the department was not taken by surprise by the number of cases, but the deaths.

“It’s a lot for 100,000 probable cases,” Rivaldo said in a conversation with journalists. “The increase in the number of probable cases of dengue is not so surprising because we already knew about the circulation of serotype 3 since the end of last year. What is surprising is the high number of suspected deaths from dengue,” he added.

The secretary highlighted that deaths from dengue are “essentially” associated with what he called the early organization of the health care network. “This is the determining factor. Of course, certain organisms, certain people, because they have some clinical conditions prior to dengue, when they contract dengue, may present more serious clinical symptoms, whether due to dengue 3, 2 or 1.”

“But it is important to keep in mind, above all, that, until proven otherwise, a death from dengue is a preventable death. We appeal to anyone with clinical suspicion of dengue to immediately seek a health unit to undergo a clinical evaluation,” Rivaldo emphasized.

Nationally, Brazil has reported about 170,000 probable cases and nearly 40 confirmed dengue deaths in January 2025, which nearly doubled in just the past few days.

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In São Paulo state, 44 municipalities have already declared a state of emergency.

The Ministry of Health has noted that the southeast part of the country is the major concern, while other areas of the country like the North region, Center-West and South regions have remained at the same levels as last year or experienced a substantial reduction in dengue.

“Our concern is the Southeast. When we look at the numbers, week by week, we have the impression that the situation is calm. But, when we look at the state of São Paulo, we are observing, week after week, double the number of dengue cases when compared to 2024”, highlighted Venâncio.