Brazil's Carnival Gets Underway Despite Zika Fears

Rio's five-day festival of dancing, bared flesh and wild costumes got underway in the face of warnings the Zika virus might make even kissing dangerous.

Mayor Eduardo Paes handed a big golden key to the carnival's ceremonial King Momo, who promised a spectacular show.

'With great happiness, brotherly love and peace, I declare the best carnival on Earth open - our carnival in the marvelous city,' the dancing king, who is elected ahead of the festivities, said on Friday.

The annual mega-bash famed for lavish and skimpily dressed samba parades and all-night street dancing is expected to attract as many as five million people.

In Sao Paulo, carnival celebrations were kicked off under intermittent summer rain, with a tribute to Carlinhos de Jesus, one of Brazil's most famous salon dancers


Revelers of the Perola Negra and Aguia de Ouro samba schools perform during the first night of carnival parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome in Sao Paulo Carnival Parade at the Anhembi Sambadrome


Regal delight: The floats kept on coming at the carnival which went ahead despite the current Zika virus scare which is gripping Brazil


Revellers of the Aguia de Ouro samba school perform during the first night of the carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Sao Paulo, Brazil


Smart outfits: A dancer from the Rosas de Ouro samba school performs (left) while a member of the samba school, Nene de Vila Matilde, (right) has fun on the streets


Glorious in blue: Performers dazzled on the streets as the annual carnival, which attracts five million people each year, got underway

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