In Argentina, mosquitoes are emerging earlier and spreading to cooler regions due to increasing temperatures, leading to the country’s worst outbreak of dengue fever and raising the risk of more frequent epidemics of the virus transmitted by the insects, according to scientists.
During the current 2023/24 season, Argentina has reported 232,996 cases of dengue fever, a disease also known as “break-bone fever” due to the severe muscle and joint pain it can cause, along with symptoms such as high fever, headache, vomiting, and skin rash.
This number far exceeds the previous record of 130,000 cases recorded last season and is five times higher than the figure at the same time last year, as shown by the latest official data. Normally, cases peak in late summer around March-April, but this season they began much earlier.
“The increase in the number of mosquitoes towards the end of spring is occurring earlier and earlier,” said Sylvia Fischer, a doctor in biological sciences and a researcher at the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET).
According to Fischer, scientists are observing dengue fever in cooler regions further south in Argentina than ever before. “These are areas where a few years ago the virus could not be found,” she said, attributing this trend to the extension of the mosquito season due to warmer weather associated with climate change.
Fischer also warned that the country could potentially experience dengue epidemics every year if the current trend continues. The outbreak this year has overwhelmed hospitals in Argentina and caused shortages of insect repellent, with prices soaring when supplies are available. The government has taken steps to facilitate imports of mosquito spray to address the demand.
“I have many dengue patients hospitalized,” said Leda Guzzi, an infectious disease doctor, noting that while most cases are not severe, the high number of cases could lead to a more dangerous outbreak next year as individuals become re-infected.
“The spread of the disease has been significant, and we anticipate that next year will be very challenging due to the high number of second dengue episodes,” Guzzi added.
The situation underscores the urgent need for measures to control the spread of dengue fever in Argentina and mitigate the impact of future epidemics, as experts warn of the potential for more frequent and severe outbreaks if current trends persist. (Reporting by Juan Bustamante and Lucila Sigal; Editing by Adam Jourdan and Devika Syamnath)
