Argentina reports more than 100,000 dengue cases since the beginning of the year

"We are experiencing Argentina's largest dengue outbreak"

The Argentina Ministry of Health reports that from the beginning of August 2023 through March 9 this year, 120,007 cases of dengue were registered in Argentina, including 79 fatalities—in the provinces of Buenos Aires (17), Misiones (14), Chaco (13), Corrientes (8), Córdoba (7), Formosa (5), Santa Fe (5), Santiago del Estero (2), CABA (4), Tucumán (1), San Luis (1), Salta (1), Entre Ríos (1).

Just from the beginning of the year (2024), officials report 102,898 cases of dengue were reported (representing the 86% of the 120,007 cases recorded in the 2023/2024 season so far).

69 of the 79 deaths recorded this season were reported since January 1.

For the same period in 2023, 8,343 cases had been registered, which represents an increase of 11.3 times this year.

Last week alone, 18,991 dengue cases were recorded, the highest one week total.

Suddora Country Flag Headbands

"We are experiencing Argentina's largest dengue outbreak”, said Mariana Manteca Acosta, a director of diagnostics and investigations at the Malbran Institute and a specialist in infectious diseases.

This season, three dengue serotypes are currently circulating in Argentina—DEN-1, DEN-2 and DEN-3, with DEN-2 predominating followed by DEN-1.

During the last epidemiological weeks, 99 cases of serotype coinfection were detected with DEN-1 and DEN-2, corresponding mainly to the NEA and Center regions. They were not linked to deaths.

There are four closely related but antigenically different serotypes of the virus that can cause dengue (DEN1, DEN 2, DEN 3, DEN 4).

Dengue Fever (DF) – marked by an onset of sudden high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and pain in muscles and joints. Some may also have a rash and varying degree of bleeding from various parts of the body (including nose, mouth and gums or skin bruising).Dengue has a wide spectrum of infection outcome (asymptomatic to symptomatic). Symptomatic illness can vary from dengue fever (DF) to the more serious dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF).

Subscribe to Outbreak News TV on YouTube

Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) – is a more severe form, seen only in a small proportion of those infected. DHF is a stereotypic illness characterized by 3 phases; febrile phase with high continuous fever usually lasting for less than 7 days; critical phase (plasma leaking) lasting 1-2 days usually apparent when fever comes down, leading to shock if not detected and treated early; convalescence phase lasting 2-5 days with improvement of appetite, bradycardia (slow heart rate), convalescent rash (white patches in red background), often accompanied by generalized itching (more intense in palms and soles), and diuresis (increase urine output).

Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) — Shock syndrome is a dangerous complication of dengue infection and is associated with high mortality. Severe dengue occurs as a result of secondary infection with a different virus serotype. Increased vascular permeability, together with myocardial dysfunction and dehydration, contribute to the development of shock, with resultant multiorgan failure.