Brazil has reported nearly 5,000 deaths due to dengue fever and over 6.4 million probable cases of the disease this year, the country's health officials said on Thursday.

The three states with the highest number of cases in Brazil are Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais and Parana, according to the latest data from Brazil's Ministry of Health.

Dengue fever is an acute infectious disease caused by the dengue virus. It is mainly transmitted by mosquitoes and is prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Typical symptoms include persistent fever, headaches, muscle pain, nausea and rash.