Blog #4: Continued Drought in Brazil creates Health Issues

Summary:

Rogerio Jelmayer and Loretta Chao wrote an article in the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday about the issues that are continuing to take place in Brazil. An issue that was once one of a lack of water in one city is now beginning to be an issue of widespread disease. An outbreak of Dengue Fever, a disease caused by infected mosquitoes, has caused problems for the people in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This outbreak is a result of people having to store scarce amounts of water in open containers. Health officials in Sao Paulo say that at least twenty people have lost their lives due to dengue fever. In addition, 563 cases of Dengue Fever had been confirmed through mid-February. Health Officials have sent agents out knocking door-to-door so as to educate the residents on how to properly store their water supply. Although officials are doing the foot work people are still in panic about whether or not they will have enough supply. In addition many people in the poverty stricken areas may have no other choice but to store water in what they have available. Sixty miles away from Sao Paulo, in the city of Soracaba officials have labeled their Dengue Fever outbreak an “epidemic”, here more than 1,600 cases have been reported.

Analysis:

If taking simply the information from this article, which does not mention aid from global health organizations at this point in time, we can see that there is an even larger “umbrella” issue at hand. The death toll due to Dengue Fever is rising quite rapidly. In cities such as Soracaba officials are beginning to label the issue an epidemic. Sure health officials are going door-to-door in certain areas, but those attempts of educating may go over looked in desperate times. Should there, at this point, be aid from the Global Society? Is it now time for Health Organizations to step in and give aid?  Or is this not yet considered a Global Health Issue? Not yet an epidemic by standards? 

http://www.wsj.com/articles/drought-stricken-sao-paulo-battles-dengue-fever-outbreak-1425420508

Phylicia Smith 

3/6/15

1;34pm