There is a risk of an increase in the incidence of dengue fever in Portugal. Find out what the symptoms are and how the disease is transmitted

“If there are infected people, there is a risk of dengue being introduced to mainland Portugal, which has not yet been recorded,” said a researcher from the Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine regarding the high number of infections in Brazil. “Risk exists and there are two types. We have Brazilians who live in Portugal, travel to Brazil and end up returning infected, as well as Portuguese who, for tourism or other reasons, travel to areas with high transmission rates,” he said.

Skydiver Mario Pardo died on Friday in Lisbon from complications caused by dengue fever contracted in Brazil.

What is Dengue?

According to SNS, Dengue is a disease caused by a virus that enters the human body through a mosquito bite.

What are the symptoms of Dengue?

The most common symptom is fever, which lasts from 2 to 7 days, SNS reports. This is followed by headache, muscle and joint pain, pain around or behind the eyes, vomiting, red spots on the skin and bleeding.

Symptoms usually appear 4–7 days after the bite and last for about 7 days. However, one in four people have no symptoms, especially most children.

How is it transmitted?

Dengue virus is transmitted through infected mosquito bites with the virus. SNS explains that “Dengue No It is transmitted from person to person, except from mother to child during pregnancy.