Argentina facing worst dengue epidemic in history

File photo shows a worker carries out fumigation to help control the spread of dengue fever in Buenos Aires January 25, 2016. [Photo/VCG]

BUENOS AIRES - Argentina is facing its worst dengue epidemic in history, with 76,803 cases notified so far this year, 53 percent higher than the previous wave in 2009, warned local media on Tuesday.

The Argentine daily La Nacion published an article 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.

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