Sao Paulo state declares health emergency over dengue outbreak

SAO PAULO, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Brazilian state of Sao Paulo declared a health emergency Wednesday as dengue cases surge, 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 industrialized state, is home to 46 million people and accounts for 58 percent of the country's dengue cases, according to the Health Ministry.

The state has reported 124,038 cases and 113 confirmed deaths, with another 82,908 cases and 233 deaths under investigation.

On Friday, Brazil's Health Ministry authorized states to expand dengue vaccinations if doses are nearing expiration.