The 2024/2025 dengue season in Argentina shows early cases predominantly from local transmission. Confirmed cases reached 1,443 with a significant number having no travel history. Authorities are implementing a Strategic Plan to enhance response capabilities and mitigate future outbreaks, while the U.S. CDC has issued a travel advisory due to the risks associated with dengue.
The Argentine Republic began its 2024/2025 dengue season in week 31 of 2024, with the Ministry of Health confirming 1,443 cases. Notably, 96.9% of these cases lacked a travel history, suggesting significant local transmission by mosquitoes. The regions most affected by the outbreak are Central Argentina, with 816 cases, and Northwest Argentina, with 237 cases.
Among the confirmed cases, there have been 45 instances where individuals reported a travel history to countries such as Brazil, Germany, and Mexico. Last year, Argentina welcomed millions of international travelers, primarily to Buenos Aires, potentially contributing to the ongoing dengue spread. In 2024, the country recorded approximately 581,000 dengue cases, resulting in 400 fatalities related to the virus.
On March 11, 2025, Argentina’s Minister of Health, Mario Lugones, convened a meeting to discuss the Strategic Plan for Dengue Prevention and Control for 2024-2025. This meeting focused on evaluating current initiatives, sharing results, and planning future measures to enhance local government’s ability to manage dengue outbreaks effectively.
Additionally, progress was made on creating a national dynamic map that will compile geographic, demographic, and climatic data connected to rainfall and temperature. This tool aims to facilitate preventive strategies and help anticipate future dengue surges.
To inform international travelers of the potential health risks, the U.S. CDC has reinstated a Travel Health Advisory regarding the dengue situations in the Americas. As vaccines for dengue are not currently available in the United States, the CDC emphasizes the importance of preventive measures against mosquito bites for travelers to endemic areas, alongside recommending other travel vaccinations, such as those for chikungunya and yellow fever, before visiting Argentina in 2025.
In summary, Argentina is experiencing a significant dengue season, primarily driven by local transmission. With thousands of cases confirmed and a strategic plan in place to combat the virus, health authorities are focusing on prevention and enhanced response measures. Travelers are advised to exercise caution given the current health advisory and lack of available vaccines, emphasizing the need for preventive actions against mosquito bites.
Original Source: www.vax-before-travel.com
