Dengue Fever in Argentina

This is to advise New Zealanders in and travelling to Argentina that the Argentine Ministry of Health has reported over 13,000 confirmed cases of dengue fever in Argentina as of April 16, 2009.

Up until recently, cases had been restricted to the northern Argentine provinces of Chaco, Salta, Catamarca, Tucuman, Corrientes and Jujuy, however over 100 cases have now been confirmed in the capital and in Buenos Aires Province.

Dengue fever is a mosquito-transmitted illness, for which there is no vaccine, and no specific treatment.

The Ministry of Health recommends eliminating sources of standing water, which form breeding grounds for mosquitoes. To further reduce the risk of contracting dengue, Argentine officials recommend wearing clothing that exposes as little skin as possible and applying a repellent containing the insecticide DEET (concentration 30 to 35 percent) or Picaridin (concentration 20 percent or greater for tropical travelers).