The Dengue Fever (Yes, It Kills You)

For any of you thinking of traveling to Brazil, there is something you should know (something that everyone conveniently forgot to tell me before I arrived here).

What is this thing? It is the dengue fever (dankey for short).

What is the dengue fever?

Besides a potentially life-threatening disease transmitted via mosquito bites with no vaccine, it is really nothing to be worried about (except for that whole epidemic in Brazil thing).

If you are wondering whether or not one of those hundreds (literally, hundreds) of bites you have gotten since arriving in Rio de Janeiro has served as a port of entry for the dengue fever into your body, you can rest assured that the answer is overwhelmingly in favor of yes.

The best part? The dengue’s incubation period is almost over; you will soon be fetal position on the bathroom floor, fighting off hallucinations brought on by your raging fever.

Have fun!