Sao Paulo, Feb. 20 -- The Brazilian state of Sao Paulo declared a health emergency Wednesday as dengue cases surged, allowing authorities to accelerate financial and medical response efforts.
Sao Paulo Health Secretary Eleuses Paiva said at a news conference that dengue, transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, is expected to peak in April, prompting immediate action.
"The challenge is enormous... The only way to reduce dengue transmission is to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds. It's like a war -- we need strategy," Paiva said.
The emergency declaration will speed up the purchase of medical supplies and treatments for those infected, he added.
Sao Paulo, Brazil's most populous and industrialised state, is home to 46 million peo...