During his two decades of working on the Buenos Aires subway, Mauricio Ríos (52) had never encountered a situation like this: a huge, deafening flock of mosquitoes forming dark clouds along the length of the Piedras station platform.
Ríos used his phone to record the increasing group of insects for thirty seconds. Then, he quickly went to the break room, reached out to his boss, and closed the station.
“In the summertime, insects are typically drawn to the light here, but never in such large quantities,” remarked Ríos. “They appeared again the following day. I am unsure of the cause. Additionally, this phenomenon seems to be occurring in other locations.”
His video rapidly became popular as Argentina faces an unprecedented surge of mosquitos, which has been linked to an increase in cases of dengue, a contagious illness transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
The health ministry has reported a staggering 2,153% increase in dengue cases this year, with a total of 74,555 cases registered since the start of the year. Unfortunately, 47 deaths have also been attributed to dengue in 2024. Health authorities are anticipating a further surge in cases in the upcoming weeks.
Dengue fever presents with various symptoms such as headaches, elevated body temperature, vomiting, discomfort in muscles and joints, eye pain, and skin rash. In some cases, particularly among individuals who have experienced multiple infections, dengue can be life-threatening and potentially fatal.
The director of the Center of Tropical Diseases at Córdoba University, Hugo Pizzi, states that the rise in temperatures in the country, a process known as “tropicalization,” along with unexpected rainfall patterns, is contributing to the spread of the outbreak.
“He expressed that it is the ideal equation for the increase of mosquitoes,” shared Pizzi. He also mentioned that in the country’s southern regions, which was previously unimaginable 25 years ago, mosquitoes are now showing up due to the effects of human-influenced climate change.
Although mosquitoes do not discriminate in who they bite based on social status, the cost of protection has significantly risen. Since President Javier Milei devalued the peso by 54% and removed price regulations in December, the price of mosquito repellent has increased by 170%. A bottle of spray, containing 290ml, now requires a minimum of 3,620 pesos to purchase ($4 at the official rate or $3.60 at the informal rate).
In April of last year, the health authorities in Argentina authorized a dengue vaccine developed by Takeda, a Japanese laboratory, which offers protection against all four types of dengue. However, the high cost of the vaccine makes it difficult for most people in the country to access. According to a representative from the health ministry, the government does not have any plans to make the vaccine widely available due to their belief that further trials are necessary.
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The current government led by Milei has held the previous administration accountable for the outbreak, citing former president Alberto Fernández’s lack of public education on the risks. Fernando Cerimedo, Milei’s campaign manager, has implied on X that Bill Gates deliberately released mosquitos to sabotage the new government and gain profit from dengue vaccines, but no evidence has been given.
According to Pizzi, a significant number of Argentinians do not fully comprehend the gravity of the situation. He urged individuals to maintain a clean yard, remove any standing water, trim grass and weeds, and safeguard their children with mosquito nets. Pizzi emphasized the vulnerability of young children to the situation.
A baby who was three months old passed away from dengue in the province of Misiones in January.
Pizzi urged the government and people of Argentina to intensify their efforts in combating dengue and the insect responsible for its transmission. He emphasized that they should not be afraid of a mosquito, no matter how small it may be.
Source: theguardian.com
