Argentina facing worst dengue epidemic in history

Argentina is facing its worst dengue epidemic in history, with 76,803 cases so far this year, 53 per cent higher than the previous wave in 2009, the media reported.

The Argentine daily la Nacion published an article on Tuesday based on data released by the Health Ministry on Monday which also added that the number of deaths from the virus in the South American country has increased from five to 11, Xinhua news agency reported. 

When looking at the break down of cases by province, Misiones, on the border with Paraguay and Brazil, reported the most cases of dengue with 22,979, then Buenos Aires, 13,120, followed by the city with the same name, 11,157, and the provinces of Chaco and Salta.

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is the carrier of chikungunya, Zika and dengue. 

Dengue is characterised at the beginning by a high and sudden fever, rashes on the skin and other discomforts.