Rio battles growing dengue epidemic with a samba
Date: 25-Feb-02
Country: BRAZIL
Author: Andrei Khalip
That's the latest approach in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state and its capital as authorities battle the worst dengue fever epidemic in 11 years.
Composer Telma Tavares' samba "Get lost, dengue," began airing this week on radio stations in a drive to educate the public about the only way to beat the dengue: get rid of the stagnant pools of water - from pools to flower pots - where it breeds.
Dengue has already killed 14 people this year and infected some 33,000 as of Friday in Rio de Janiero state alone.
"When the smoke car passes, open your window," the singer croons, referring to vehicles that spray insecticide in Rio streets. Windows have to be open for the spray to reach all homes.
Calling the stripe-bellied dengue mosquito a "flying zebra with a sting," which Tavares said made the song popular among children, the samba continues: "The mosquito bites and it can kill. Empty that bucket, show your will."
Tavares, who gave the song to the radios free of charge, says she wrote it after her friend nearly died of dengue.
"It really scared me," she told Reuters.
"Then I heard a health official on TV saying we should open the windows and I thought I could contribute to this fight by the only means I have - music. And samba is the closest to the hearts of all Brazilians."
The outbreak followed heavy rains in Brazil in the past months.
Some 80 percent of the state population lives in the Rio metropolitan area, where most of dengue cases, including the potentially fatal hemorrhagic strain, were registered. Dengue causes severe body pain, fever and headaches. It normally passes after about a week.
