Argentina’s Dengue Season Report: Local Transmission and Preventive Measures

The 2024/2025 dengue season in Argentina has led to 1,443 confirmed cases, predominantly from local mosquito transmission. The Central and Northwest regions reported the most cases, with 96.9% lacking travel history. The U.S. CDC has issued travel advisories urging precautions due to the ongoing dengue epidemic.

The dengue season in Argentina for 2024/2025 commenced during week 31, leading to the confirmation of 1,443 cases by the Ministry of Health. Notably, as of March 10, 2025, an overwhelming 96.9% of cases reported no travel history, indicating significant local transmission by mosquitoes. The highest incidence of cases this season has been observed in the Central region, accounting for 816 cases, followed by the Northwest region with 237 cases.

Among the 45 cases with a travel history, individuals had traveled to various countries including Brazil, Cuba, and Thailand. In light of this, millions of international travelers visited Argentina last year, with a majority arriving in Buenos Aires. In 2024 alone, approximately 581,000 dengue cases and 400 fatalities were recorded in the country.

On March 11, 2025, Minister of Health Mario Lugones chaired a meeting as part of the Strategic Plan for Dengue Prevention and Control for 2024-2025. The meeting focused on ongoing actions, achievements to date, and strategies to enhance the response capacity of local jurisdictions to tackle future outbreaks.

Significant progress was also discussed regarding the creation of a national dynamic map, integrating geographic, demographic, and climatic data, which will facilitate the implementation of preventive measures and proactive management of potential dengue outbreaks. To address health risks, the U.S. CDC reissued a Travel Health Advisory regarding the dengue epidemic across the Americas, advising travelers in endemic areas to avoid mosquito bites while noting that dengue vaccines are not currently available in the U.S.

Additionally, the CDC advocates for routine vaccinations, including those for chikungunya and yellow fever, prior to visiting Argentina in 2025, underlining the importance of traveler health and safety during the dengue season.

The early stages of Argentina’s dengue season have revealed significant local transmission and a substantial number of cases without travel history. With a strategic plan in place and the initiative to develop a national dynamic map, authorities aim to enhance preventive measures against future outbreaks. The advisory from the U.S. CDC emphasizes the importance of precautions for travelers visiting endemic regions in Argentina, particularly in light of the dengue vaccine unavailability in the United States.

Original Source: www.vax-before-travel.com