- Written by Ione Wells
- South America correspondent
Argentinian woman receives dengue vaccination
Argentina faces insect repellent shortages as it prepares for the worst dengue season on record.
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne virus that can cause serious or fatal illness in some cases.
Although a vaccine for dengue fever has been developed, its widespread use is still in its early stages, and most people still rely on precautions to avoid the virus.
Residents report that purchasing repellent is nearly impossible.
Many supermarkets and pharmacies display “No Repellents” signs, and in the few places where they are still available, particularly online, resale prices are astronomical.
The government blames a “bottleneck” for the problem, which it says will be fixed within the next few days.
But with hundreds of thousands of Argentines already infected, many in the country, especially in the capital Buenos Aires, are fearful.
The shortage of repellents began to become noticeable in March.
A source at one of the companies that makes repellents in the country told BBC Mundo that the shortage was due to a prediction error and that it took several months to produce the product.
Health Minister Mario Russo told Radio Continental that this is “a question between supply and demand.”
Dengue fever Most common in tropical and subtropical climates, symptoms include high fever, severe headache, swollen glands, and rash.
image source, Getty Images
A woman stands in front of a “no repellents” sign in a supermarket
Argentina has reported 163,419 dengue cases so far in 2024, with deaths recorded in all age groups, with the highest mortality rate among people over 80, Argentina’s Ministry of Health announced on Saturday. .
The ministry advises people to use repellents to avoid bites and to seek medical attention if they develop symptoms of the disease.
The number of dengue cases in the Americas tripled in the first three months of this year compared to the same period in 2023, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay have been the hardest hit, with PAHO officials saying this could be the worst outbreak in the Americas to date. These three countries account for 98% of all cases and 87% of deaths from the virus.
Regional health authorities have recorded more than 3.5 million infections and more than 1,000 deaths.
The United Nations health agency has warned that global warming and the El Niño phenomenon are contributing to the worst season on record for the virus.
