One Little Apocalypse

If recession, successive investment downgrades, mounting unemployment and a distrusted federal administration were not enough causes for concern, now a mosquito-transmitted disease detected in dozens of different countries adds to the Brazilian people’s state of astrological hell.

True, it is indeed a health hazard that in Brazil denounces flaws in the expansion of sanitation infrastructures which continued to be neglected during the recent years of plenty. Even though shameful for conscientious Brazilian nationals, the story has been driven completely out of proportion.

Rumors that zika – said to be brief and void of serious symptoms – may be linked to brain malformation in fetuses are yet to be proven. For the record, dengue fever, carried around by the same insect, is said to be more severe, especially if recurrent. Here a vaccine is fortunately on its way.

Despite the reigning widespread panic, it must be said that, though the mood of people may not be at its brightest right now, the masses are not being decimated on the streets either. At least there is general awareness of the risks and action is being taken.

The whole situation and its timing suggest excessive image depreciation which may eventually offer acute players real bargains. If anything, these are intriguing times. Stay tuned.