(RFI).- Argentina is experiencing the worst dengue crisis in its history. This year it was already 69 deaths and over 100,000 infections throughout the country. Roberto Debbagh, an infectious disease specialist specializing in dengue and vice-president of the Latin American Society of Vaccinology, explains the reasons for this outbreak.

What are the causes of a dengue outbreak?

“Two foundations. One of them is the tropicalization of Argentina.. In recent decades, especially in the last decade, temperature and humidity have increased from the north of the country to the south due to the effects of climate change and now also due to the El Niño effect,” says Debbagh.

He later adds: “This is, on the one hand, the second side is the increase in poverty levels. Although dengue can affect any social class, there are more vectors, meaning more mosquitoes. In areas where there is poverty, where garbage is thrown or accumulated, and water stagnation leads to an increase in the number of cases of the disease.”

The government believes that the population will be immunized naturally. He ruled out vaccinating the population, considering that the effectiveness of the vaccine against dengue fever has not been proven. What do you think about this strategy?

“Control A dengue outbreak should be based on a so-called package of measureswhat is connected with access to healthcare, patient testing, monitoring. On the other hand, vector control is also carried out in poor communities through periodic fumigation to reduce the number of mosquitoes. And we also have a tool – a vaccine,” says the expert.

Moreover, he comments:

Vaccine for everyone? No, because in Argentina the largest number of cases occur in the center of the country, in the north of the country. The virus has been circulating there for over ten years, and when this epidemic outbreak occurs, many of these people have a second episode, and because of the second episode, the mortality rate increases.

“So these are the populations that need to be vaccinated and it is not good to immunize the population through infection. Today there are vaccines and they are the best tools. as well as reducing mosquitoes, providing access to healthcare, etc.,” he states.

Argentina has so far recorded 69 deaths from dengue fever. How deadly is this virus?

“Depending on whether it is the first or second infection, the estimated probability of death is between one and 2%. But it all depends on the country, because if it is a country where the outbreak is at its peak, and it takes 6 to 12 hours to call for treatment, “Dengue patients experience complications, and if they do not have quick access to the healthcare system, the complications worsen.”Debbag reports.

Later he adds.

So the mortality rate is also increasing. Most of these people are people who died in the north of the country, where the virus has been circulating for many years. And it is these populations that need protection the most.

How would you rate the government’s health policy towards dengue control so far? Adequate? Inadequate?

“The Ministry of Health gives recommendations, but there are 23 ministries of health in the regions. Thus, it is very difficult to make generalizations because, for example, there are provinces that have no cases of dengue fever. What I can say is that We are not used to a dengue outbreak like the one in Argentina.Therefore, I believe that there is disorganization of healthcare, which does not allow comprehensive measures to be taken to combat the outbreak,” the expert concludes.