One of the most significant health scares in recent history is not keeping Brazilians from their annual carnival revelry, with millions taking to the streets despite the spread of the mosquito-borne Zika virus.
Street processions, block parties and the televised, big-budget parades that are the hallmark of the festival moved into their second day on Sunday, even as Brazilian health officials continued to grapple with an outbreak that may have infected as many as 1.5 million people and could be linked to serious health conditions in more than 4,000 infants and unborn children.
“It’s one more thing to worry about,” said Juliana Araujo, a 48-year-old teacher at a street party in Rio de Janeiro, where other problems, such as an economic recession and impeachment proceedings against Brazil’s president, seemed distant concerns.
Recent news that traces of the virus had been identified in blood, saliva and other bodily fluids of patients known to have been infected with Zika would not do much to dampen the mood, she predicted: “People aren’t going to stop having fun and hooking up.”
More than a million people hit the streets in cities such as Rio, home to the country’s best-known carnival celebration, and the north-eastern capitals of Salvador and Recife, two cities hit hard by the outbreak.
Along with the usual cross-dressing, superheroes and other outlandish costumes worn by partygoers, some toyed with themes related to the scare. Outside a juice bar in Rio early on Sunday, three men dressed as mosquitoes mingled with other revellers. Carnival officially ends on Wednesday.
For some, the levity is welcome relief during non-stop Zika headlines. After emerging in Brazil last year, the virus has now been locally transmitted in at least 30 countries, and is a public health emergency of international concern, according to the World Health Organisation.
Last week, scientists said they would investigate a report that an American in Texas had transmitted Zika to a sexual partner. On Friday, Brazilian researchers said they had found genetic material from the Zika virus in saliva and urine from two patients.
They said more research was necessary to determine if it can be transmitted by those fluids, but warned pregnant women, of most concern because of links between the virus and the risk to developing babies, to avoid the casual kissing of strangers common at carnival.
Scientists have found genetic material from Zika virus in tissue and fluids taken from mothers and children in at least 17 cases of microcephaly, a condition characterised by abnormally small heads and sometimes brain damage. Researchers have yet to prove if the virus actually causes microcephaly.
For foreigners visiting Brazil, the scare makes them want to take precautions – but has not ruined a good time.
“I was scared coming out here,” said Martha Scofield, 23, a tourist visiting Rio from Britain. “But there’s not much you can do really. I’m going to come, have a good time, be careful, and I don’t plan to get pregnant.”