minas Gerais Braces for Dengue, Sees 92% Case Drop in 2025 with New Vaccine Rollout
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A meaningful decline in arbovirus cases is being observed in Minas Gerais, Brazil, but health officials remain cautiously optimistic, preparing for potential challenges posed by circulating dengue serotypes and ongoing vaccination efforts.
Despite a historically severe dengue epidemic in 2024, the state is experiencing a dramatic reduction in infections. In 2025, Minas Gerais recorded 118,858 probable cases of dengue, a 92% decrease compared to the previous year. Alongside this, 17,803 confirmed cases of chikungunya and 26 cases of Zika virus were reported.
Preparing for a Complex Arbovirus Landscape
The Secretary of State for health of minas Gerais emphasized the importance of continued vigilance, acknowledging that 2024 represented “the worst year in our history†for dengue. while the current outlook is positive, officials are preparing for a potentially challenging year ahead, particularly due to the presence of three circulating dengue serotypes — 1, 2, and 3.
“We will always look at it as a difficult year,†a senior official stated.“When there are many serotypes circulating, the chance of a person who has never had that serotype getting it is high. And what’s worse, if in the space of less than two years, they get a different serotype than the one they had, the chance of severe dengue fever increases.â€
Multi-Million Real Investment in Prevention and Control
The state government has allocated approximately R$210 million to combat arboviruses this season. This investment includes R$23.6 million for emergency actions and R$35.1 million transferred to intermunicipal consortia for Aedes aegypti mosquito control. An additional R$47.3 million is earmarked for strengthening surveillance teams, expanding testing access, and implementing innovative technologies.
These technologies include the deployment of drones to monitor hard-to-reach areas and the use of ovitraps — devices designed to capture and monitor mosquito populations.
Butantan Vaccine offers Hope for Widespread Immunity
A key component of the state’s strategy is the rollout of the Butantan vaccine, a single-dose dengue vaccine developed in Brazil.While initial vaccination rates were limited by vaccine availability, officials are optimistic about a significant increase in coverage.
“We are optimistic for this year,especially for us to have 20 million doses of the Butantan vaccine available by the end of the year,†a health official noted. “Next year, we will certainly be talking about another scenario, with a large part of the population vaccinated.â€
the Butantan vaccine has demonstrated 100% efficacy in preventing hospitalization due to dengue, according to the Secretary of State for Health. “I dare say that this will be the last year with a large part of the population unvaccinated,†he stated. “Next year we will be better in this regard.â€
Nova Lima to Lead vaccine Implementation
Nova Lima, located in the Greater Belo Horizonte metropolitan area, will be among the first three cities in Brazil to begin vaccinating women with the Butantan-DV vaccine, starting January 17th. This initiative marks a significant step towards achieving widespread immunity and mitigating the impact of future dengue outbreaks.
Despite the positive developments, health officials caution against complacency. While the 2025 data indicates a significant reduction in cases, continued vigilance and proactive measures are crucial to prevent a resurgence of arboviruses in Minas Gerais.
