Brazilian health authorities on alert after rise in deaths from chikungunya

At least 156 people are confirmed to have died from chikungunya virus in Brazil so far this year compared with six people in 2015, an increase of 2500%, according to data from the Ministry of Health. Another 432 deaths are suspected to be connected with arboviruses, such as dengue, zika, or chikungunya.

“Chikungunya is the most dangerous of the arboviruses, and is causing the highest mortality rate,” said Carlos Brito, a general practitioner, and professor at the Federal University of Pernambuco, in Recife, Brazil. He added that …