YELLOW FEVER HAUNTS BRAZIL
Brazilian Health Minister, José Gomes Temporão says there is no yellow fever epidemic in Brazil, but citizens are tired of lies that the government has repeatedly passed to them, like that there is no risk of an electric black out, or that traveling by air planes “is now very safe in this country”, or that no shortage of (Bolivian) gas will happen.
The fact is that monkeys are dying from yellow fever, from mosquitoes biting them, and then subsequently biting humans, which can turn the life of Brazilians into a nightmare of debilitating ill-health. A well-off person in the capital, Brasília, has died a few days ago from this disease. The culprit may be the same mosquito which transmits dengue, another serious epidemic in this country.
It is highly recommendable that visitors to this country take the vaccine, at least ten days before they arrive. It can make a difference between life and death, for the rate of mortality has been of about 40% of those infected.
This country is a haven for investors, who reap the largest interest rate in the world, while on the other hand, however, sales taxes on purchases of most store items are extortionate, for example on an automobile 43% of the sale price goes to the government, nearly doubling the cost of the item.
The hardship imposed by the government on our population by these taxes is extreme, but worse than that is the services we receive for such high taxes is nearly non-existant.
European immigrants arriving during the last Century, were quoted as writing back to their families, and telling that Brazil is, in fact, a “large hospital”. The government tries to capitalize on the good sports performance of Brazilian athletes and soccer players, in order to deflect the attention from the scarce services given to primary to higher public education, and the poor health services provided to its citizens. The minds of common citizens, right now, are busy with the prospective “happiness” to be attained by them in the approaching Carnival…---If the yellow fever epidemic is not going to frustrate their plans.
About 50 people are suspected of being infected, and about 18 died recently from this disease.
Marcelo Samuel Berman, American Press Association Journalist, reporting from Brazil.