Climate Change and the Spread of Viruses: What Brazil’s Fight Against Dengue Can Teach the World

As a result of climate change and globalization, diseases are reaching regions where they were previously unknown, while those already present are becoming harder to control. Health systems face new challenges and must adapt quickly, while societies as a whole struggle with the impact of increasingly frequent and severe outbreaks.

Brazil, a country long familiar with dengue, is now experiencing record-breaking outbreaks. In 2024, the country faced its worst epidemic in history. This year’s outbreak, though less severe, is also one of the highest on record.

Journalist Lucila Pinto investigates how Brazil is responding to this growing crisis, focusing on the intersection of science, public health, and social impact. Brazil is one of the first major countries to confront dengue on such a scale. Its strategies offer a case study in how health systems might respond to emerging diseases worldwide.