According to the Argentina Ministry of Health, during the current season, 13,230 suspected cases of chikungunya fever were reported; of these, 3,618 were classified as confirmed, probable, or probable via epidemiological link.
Reported cases with a travel history originated in Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Cuba.
The first cases without travel history were identified in Salta province amidst the occurrence of imported cases linked to travel to Bolivia, confirming the presence of local transmission.
Throughout the season, a sustained acceleration in chikungunya fever cases was observed up to EW 16, driven by increases in both confirmed and probable cases; this indicated a scenario of intensifying transmission alongside improved detection. Following the peak in cases during Epidemiological Week (EW) 16 (N=446), a progressive and sustained decline has been observed in confirmed, probable, and under-investigation cases alike.
Chikungunya epidemic risk: A call to action
Regarding spatial distribution, the highest disease burden is concentrated in the NOA region (n=3,492; 97% of the total), particularly in Salta, Tucumán, and Jujuy, where the primary transmission hotspots are established.
Concurrently, outbreaks were reported in other jurisdictions—such as Catamarca (Capital), Santiago del Estero (Capital), and Buenos Aires (Lomas de Zamora, Merlo, Quilmes)—alongside case detections in CABA and Córdoba (see Map 1), evidencing the event’s recent expansion beyond the initially affected areas.
The median age was 31 years. The age group with the highest proportion of cases was the 45–65 age bracket, followed by the 25–34 and 35–44 age groups. Females accounted for 54% of the cases.
The most frequently reported symptoms were fever, polyarthralgia, myalgia, headache, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Of the total cases, 2,809 (78%) had data available regarding the need for hospitalization; of these, 8.3% (n=232) required hospital admission.
Nine severe cases of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) fever were reported, two of which resulted in death. The seven non-fatal cases involved residents of Salta (n=4), Santiago del Estero (n=2), and Tucumán (n=1).
The two fatal cases involved patients residing in the province of Salta: a 68-year-old man from Embarcación, who developed respiratory compromise associated with *Streptococcus pneumoniae* pneumonia, and a 34-year-old man from Aguaray with a history of decompensated diabetes, who had an unfavorable outcome involving septic shock and respiratory failure.
