Less than 10 days before the 2014 World Cup kicks off in Brazil, The City of Campinas, where the Super Eagles and Portugal will train for the World Cup, has been hit with dengue fever epidemic.
Reports say workers in the City have reportedly embarked on a huge operation to eradicate mosquitoes, which spread the disease, before the Portuguese and Nigerian teams arrive.
It was gathered that no fewer 32,384 people have been infected by dengue this year in the southeastern city about one hour from Sao Paulo.
Health officials stated that at least three people have died of the epidemic.
"It's a record epidemic. It's bigger than the 11,500 cases registered in all of 2007," said Andrea Von Zuben, who co-ordinates the Campinas dengue control program.
Dengue is a viral infection carried by the aedes aegypti mosquito. The fever is like chronic influenza with severe headaches, muscle and joint pain, vomiting and a rash. Severe cases can be deadly because there is no cure for dengue, so prevention is the best medicine.
The World Health Organisation recommends people in infected areas prevent mosquito bites with window screens, insect repellant and mosquito coils.
Brazil has been hit harder by dengue than any other country so far this century, with seven million cases reported between 2000 and 2013.
In order to prevent a different sort of outbreak during the Mundial, Campinas' authorities have said they would be giving their citizens free vaccinations ahead of the tournament which will see visitors from Africa and Europe, where "polio and measles are still persistent.
The reports also stated that priority will be given to transport workers, staff at restaurants and tourist attractions, and the employees of six major hotels.
Authorities in Brazil have however stated that the areas where the Nigerian and Portuguese squads will be camped are a mosquito-control priority for health officials.
The Nigerian team are currently camping in Philadelphia, USA ahead of their warm up match against Greece on Tuesday.
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