Argentina: Western equine encephalitis (WEE) update for animals and humans
Argentina: Western equine encephalitis (WEE) update for animals and humans
Since the alert issued on November 25, 2023, and until July 24, 2024, the National Service for Agri-Food Health and Quality (SENASA) confirmed a total of 1,529 outbreaks of Western equine encephalitis (WEE) in horses in 17 provinces.
On January 24, mandatory vaccination against Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis was established throughout Argentina for all equines that are at least two months old, within the framework of the health emergency due to the disease established by Resolution 1219/2023.
The detection of cases in equines peaked in epidemiological week (EW) 49 of 2023, reaching 482 cases and decreased to less than 30 cases per week from EW 52, sustaining a decline until EW 6 of 2024, with sporadic cases being recorded since then and until EW 16, after which no new outbreaks have been recorded.
Concerning human cases, since the beginning of epidemiological surveillance in EW 48 of 2023, and until EW 28 of 2024, 580 suspected cases were reported to the National Health Surveillance System (SNVS2.0) in 21 provinces; 108 cases were confirmed, 20 have been classified as probable and 123 have been ruled out. The latest positive cases were reported in EW 15.
Confirmed cases were identified in eight jurisdictions: Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (2 cases) and the provinces of Buenos Aires (64), Santa Fe (20), Córdoba (10), Entre Ríos (6), Río Negro (4), La Pampa (1) and Santiago del Estero (1).
Subscribe to Outbreak News TV on YouTube
Confirmed cases were identified in all age groups, with a median age of 57.5 years (range 4 months to 81 years); 60% of cases are in the age groups of 50 to 69 years. 86% of cases are male and 14% are female.
Among the confirmed cases, 12 deaths have been recorded to date, in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (1) and the provinces of Buenos Aires (6), Santa Fe (2), Córdoba (1), Entre Ríos (1) and Río Negro (1).
Eight of the 12 deceased reported having lived, worked or visited a rural or semi-rural area; the remaining four are under investigation. Seven of the 12 deceased reported a history of previous illness or risk condition (diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, chronic respiratory disease, among others). The deaths were recorded in people between 30 and 74 years old, 10 males and two females.