Brazil's 2008-09 dengue programme features more specific rapid diagnostics
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Faster dengue diagnostics, capable of more precisely defining the serotype of the infection, is a leading component of Brazil's dengue strategy in 2008-09. So said the health ministry at the end of October, following the launch of a new national programme. The overall federal budget for the programme has increased 23% on 2007, to R$1.08bn (US$492m). The key to patient management is knowing, as early as possible, which of four serotypes are involved; infection with more than one of these causes the potentially fatal form of dengue fever.