Due to the Dengue fever epidemic, a state of emergency has been declared in Rio de Janeiro just a few days before the start of the world-famous Carnival. "In connection with Dengue fever, a state of emergency in public health is being declared in Rio de Janeiro," said the mayor of the Brazilian city, Eduardo Paes, in his decree, which was published in the online bulletin of the Mayor's Office. According to the city administration, the number of people infected with the disease since the beginning of the year is over ten thousand.