the most internationally publicized health risk to travelers visiting rio de janeiro is dengue fever which has gained widespread media attention in light of rio de janeiro's major events - spread through mosquito bites, dengue is a viral infection that can cause serious illnesses in those it infects - in some rare cases dengue may even be fatal.

lasting 4 to 6 days, dengue fever has four strains producing similar symptoms to the flu - this include fever, joint and bone pain, nausea, vomiting, headaches, fatigue, and rashes, a few days after the onset of the fever - symptoms may vary in severity and in some cases can include a fever that will go up to 105 f (40c).

severe complications, caused by the illness, include the potentially fatal dengue hemorrhagic fever - this stage of the fever results in bleeding from the gums, nose, or under the skin and the development bruises.