Epidemiology of Dengue in Argentina during the 2010/11 to 2019/20 Seasons: A Contribution to the Burden of Disease

Abstract

Background: Dengue is an important public health problem in Argentina, as in many other countries. We reviewed and updated information on the dengue disease burden in Argentina over a 10-year period. Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study from 2010 to 2020 based on data from the National Health Surveillance System. The main outcomes included dengue cases, incidence rates, deaths, and serotype distribution by season, age group, and region. Results: A total of 109,998 confirmed cases of dengue were reported. Seasonality stands out, prevailing during summer and autumn. Two main outbreaks (seasons 2015/16 and 2019/20), with increasing magnitude, were observed. The 2019/20 season showed the highest number of cases (58,731) and incidence rate (135/100,000). The Northeast region had the highest number of cases and incidence rate. In 2020, for the first time, autochthonous cases were registered in the Cuyo region. The only region with no autochthonous cases was the South. Adolescents and young adults showed the highest incidence rate. The case fatality rate for the period was 0.05%. Four serotypes circulated, but the predominant one was DEN-1 (78%). Conclusions: Dengue has been expanding temporally and spatially. Although the DEN-1 serotype widely predominated, the increasing circulation of other serotypes raises concerns regarding re-exposure and the severity of future cases. Understanding epidemiological trends is key to defining public prevention and control policies.