Argentina Faces Largest Dengue Fever Outbreak in Country's History

Written by Henrik Rothen

Mar.26 - 2024 9:42 AM CET

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Photo: Shutterstock.com
Photo: Shutterstock.com
Argentina is grappling with an unprecedented dengue fever epidemic, the largest in the history of this South American nation. This year, the number of registered infection cases has already exceeded 134,000, with nearly 100 people having lost their lives.

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In the 2023/2024 season, Argentina has already diagnosed over 151,300 cases of dengue fever. Since then, the death toll has risen to 106. Just in the last week, more than 23,700 new infections have been reported, as informed by the newspaper "Pagina 12".

"Compared to other epidemic years, the current season is characterized by a larger scale, starting earlier, and maintaining the number of cases throughout all weeks up to now," reads a statement from the Argentine Ministry of Health.

The newspaper also highlights that the current season is exceptional due to the extent of the epidemic. Local infections are detected in 19 out of 24 provinces, with the highest number of cases being recorded in the central part of Argentina - in the city of Buenos Aires, the province of the same name, and the provinces of Entre Rios, Santa Fe, and Cordoba.

"This is a historic epidemic, mainly because of the enormous number of cases this year," says infectious diseases specialist Leda Guzzi, quoted by "Pagina 12". She adds that the actual number of infections is certainly much higher since many infected individuals are asymptomatic and do not seek hospital treatment.

Guzzi predicts that the number of cases may begin to decline in mid-April when the activity of mosquitoes transmitting dengue starts to decrease. However, she notes that climate changes allow these insects to survive in some areas of Argentina throughout the year.

Symptoms of Dengue Fever Dengue is an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus and transmitted by mosquitoes.

It manifests with high fever, headaches, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, and in the most severe cases, hemorrhages that can lead to death.

The World Health Organization has warned that tropical diseases, caused by viruses transmitted by mosquitoes, are spreading faster and further due to climate changes.