Brazil

Traveling to Brazil? Find out what you're in for first.

What Dr. Mike encounters in Brazil:

Fire Ants
Mike gets up-close and personal with the Brazilian fire ant and ends up in the Emergency Room.

Dengue Fever
Mike shatters illusions about the mosquito and discusses a deadly disease.

Favella Rocinha
Mike visits this self-contained community that has grown up organically with no central government and no local authorities, driven by the power of the people.

Wandering Spider
Dr. Mike visits a favela, or shantytown, on the edge of Rio de Janeiro and encounters a spider whose bite can induce one of the more embarrassing side effects known to man -- a very painful long-lasting erection.

Meeting of the Waters
Dr. Mike visits one of the natural wonders of the world, the place where two separate rivers combine, but don't mix, to form the great Amazon River.

Schistosome
Mike jumps into the Amazon River and explores the habitat of the schistosome, a tiny worm that infects 200 million people worldwide with schistosomiasis.

Bullet Ant
Mike is bitten by a bullet ant, which is reputed to have the most painful bite of any invertebrate in the world.

Jungle Doctor
Mike meets Mrs. Bacu, a jungle doctor who whips ups some potions and lotions to help Mike with a headache, protect him against malaria and potentially purge his parasites.

Piranha
Mike catches a fish with a ferocious reputation, and demonstrates how they can strip an animal to the bone in minutes. Mike puts his finger on the line to see if the killer reputation of these piranhas is really justified.

Assassin Bug and Chagas' Disease
Mike is tracked down by one of nature's most advanced hunters, which spreads an evil disease called Chagas. Mike lets the assassin bug feed on his arm to show it isn't the bite that can kill you.

Candiru Fish
Mike explains the dangers of peeing in the Amazon because of a parasitic bloodsucker the size of a matchstick and what it can do inside one's nether regions.

Vampire Bat
Mike, with the help of jungle guides, catches up with a vampire bat, famous because they feed on blood. Mike shows the beauty behind the beast before releasing it back into the wild.