Dengue fever in Rio 'may last another two months'

Brazil's authorities have warned that the dengue epidemic currently ingrained in Rio de Janeiro may last another two months.

Since the start of the year at least 80 people have died from the fever and over 75,000 people have caught the infection, according to the health ministry.

A state official warned that the epidemic could continue until June, when the rains ease and temperatures fall. The unnamed official told Reuters: "The seriousness of the epidemic is because authorities had only been prepared for a small outbreak. That has affected the efficiency of the fight against mosquitoes."

Dengue is a viral disease spread by mosquitoes and treatment involves increased fluid intake. There are no available vaccines or drugs to cure the fever.

The Brazilian military has begun a fumigation programme to stop the spread of the mosquitoes and destroy environments in which the disease carriers breed and spread.

Vaccine research and development company Hawaii Biotech has received funding from the Paediatric Dengue Vaccine Initiative to manufacture a vaccine for the disease for future clinical tests.