Travelling to Brazil for the World Cup? Then pack some mosquito repellent. Football fans have been warned of potential outbreaks of dengue fever in Brazil during the competition. Rachel Lowe at the Catalan Institute of Climate Sciences in Barcelona, Spain, and colleagues have developed the first early warning system for the virus. They analysed variables includin rainfall, temperature and population in the 12 cities that are hosting matches during the tournament. Although most posed little risk of dengue, they found a high risk of the disease in three of the host cities - Natal, Fortaleza and Recife, all in the north-east of Brazil.
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