Rio de Janeiro, Feb 5 (EFE).- Mayor Eduardo Paes took the opportunity of Friday’s ceremony marking the state of Rio’s famous Carnival to urge residents of Brazil’s second city not to forget the fight against the mosquito that transmits the Zika virus and dengue fever.

“Don’t forget the mosquito, which now brings us a new disease, Zika,” he said.

The spread of Zika and its possible association with the growing number of birth defects has led the Brazilian government to declare a nationwide health emergency.

At the inauguration of Carnival at city hall, Paes presented the keys of Rio to King Momo, a character identified with the festival and who is played by Wilson Dias Costa Neto for the third straight year.

King Momo, dressed in yellow and wearing a majestic crown, danced the first samba steps of the five-day festivities with Carnival Queen Clara Cristina Paixao de Oliveira, who reigns for her second year and wore a golden evening gown aglitter with gemstones, and with the two princesses of the court.

In their speeches, King Momo and the mayor spoke about the Olympic Games to be contested here next August.

Enlivening the ceremony were drums of the Beija-Flor samba school, champion of last year’s parades, while also on hand were representatives of the “old guard,” as the octogenarians are known who work at keeping Carnival faithful to its traditions. EFE