Brazil to tackle dengue outbreak

RIO DE JANEIRO, March 20 (UPI) -- Brazilian health officials said Thursday the government will create a crisis center to deal with an outbreak of dengue fever.

Health Minister Jose Gomes Temporao said the country's military physicians and medical units would help curb the dengue epidemic in Rio de Janeiro state, which has claimed almost 50 lives this year, O Globo TV reported.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne illness causing severe flu-like symptoms in most cases, though it can be fatal.