Rio De Janeiro: The Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro is suffering an epidemic of dengue fever, State Secretary of Health Sergio Cortes said.

The number of cases of the disease is "extremely high" in the state and the situation needs to be approached as an epidemic, Cortes said in an interview with a local TV station.

Dengue is transmitted to humans by the aedes aegypti mosquito, which feed on human blood during the day.

The disease is manifested by a sudden onset of fever with severe headache, muscle and joint pains.

Local media reported Wednesday that the capital city of Rio de Janeiro registered 1,100 new cases of dengue fever between March 17 and 18.

Of the 47 people who were confirmed to have died of the disease so far this year, 24 were children aged between two and 13. "Over 60 percent of the cases were among children," said Cortes.

Source : 8