Buenos Aires, Argentina – As Argentina gears up for what could be its most severe dengue season yet, the country is facing a critical shortage of insect repellent, leaving its citizens vulnerable to the potentially deadly mosquito-borne virus.
Dengue, a virus that can lead to severe illness or even death, has already infected hundreds of thousands of Argentines. With the rollout of the dengue vaccine still in its early stages, many rely on preventive measures, including the use of repellents, to protect themselves from the virus.
However, reports indicate that it has become nearly impossible to purchase insect repellent in the country. Many supermarkets and pharmacies have run out of stock, with the few remaining supplies being sold at exorbitant prices, particularly online.
The Argentine government has acknowledged the shortage, attributing it to a “bottleneck” in the supply chain that they are working to rectify. Despite reassurances from health officials, the scarcity of insect repellent has left residents in Buenos Aires and beyond feeling anxious and unprotected in the face of the escalating dengue crisis.
The situation worsened in March when the shortage of repellents became apparent. Companies producing repellents in the country cite forecasting errors and lengthy manufacturing processes as contributing factors to the current crisis, emphasizing that it will take time to replenish supplies.
According to the country’s health ministry, Argentina has already reported over 163,000 cases of dengue fever in 2024, with fatalities recorded across all age groups. The highest mortality rates have been noted in individuals over 80 years old, underscoring the severity of the current outbreak.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported a threefold increase in dengue cases in the Americas in the first quarter of 2024, with Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay being the worst affected countries. PAHO officials warn that the current outbreak could be the most severe recorded in the region, with these three countries accounting for the majority of cases and deaths from the virus.
As regional health authorities grapple with over 3.5 million cases and a significant number of fatalities, the United Nations health agency has issued a stark warning linking the unprecedented dengue outbreak to factors such as global warming and El Niño. The urgent need for preventive measures, including access to essential resources like insect repellent, has never been more apparent as Argentina confronts a public health crisis of alarming proportions.