British supermodel Naomi Campbell speaks out about Rio de Janeiro's dengue
epidemic and offers to donate blood for the campaign.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (APRIL 15, 2008) REUTERS -

Supermodel Naomi Campbell visited a Rio de Janeiro blood donor
center on Tuesday (April 15) to support the fight against a dengue fever
epidemic but her offer to give blood was rejected.
    Campbell said she was turned down because she had surgery in February,
when she was rushed to a hospital in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo to have a
cyst removed.
    Wearing a white "Rio Against Dengue" T-shirt, the supermodel
went on to advise Rio residents on how to combat the outbreak, which has
killed about 50 people and made nearly 60,000 sick in the city.
    At least 80 people have died of the mosquito-borne disease in Rio de
Janeiro state although there are signs that the outbreak is now under control
with cases falling sharply and smaller lines of infected people outside
clinics in the city. 
    Campbell called herself Rio's ambassador and demanded government
action.
    "I love Brazil, as you know, I am the ambassador of Rio.
Basically, it's not about blaming everybody, I think the government needs to
come together and find a way to make a solution, improving the hospitals and
the care in the hospitals for the people with dengue," said the
37-year-old model, who is a frequent visitor to Brazil.
    The potentially fatal haemorrhage form of dengue has left hospitals
facing a shortage of blood for transfusions.
    Health experts have criticised authorities for allowing large mosquito
populations to form, especially in poor areas of the tourist city that have
borne the brunt of cases, and for being unprepared for an outbreak.
    Known for her fiery temper, Campbell hit the headlines last week when
she was escorted off a British Airways flight in London and arrested on
suspicion of assaulting a police officer.