AEDES-AEGYPTI IN CORDOBA PROVINCE, ARGENTINA

In 1955, the area infested by Aedes aegypti in Argentina was estimated as 1,500,000 km(2); and in 1963, the species was considered to be era dicated from Argentina. In 1995, the Argentine Ministry of Health repo rted reinfestation by Ae. aegypti. During 1994-95, the Ministry of Hea lth of Cordoba Province, Zoonosis Department, established a surveillan ce system for Ae. aegypti in Cordoba Province, Argentina. This report is a summary of results obtained thus far. In total, 74 localities in Cordoba Province were sampled during August 1994-April 1996, resulting in 5 positives (6.7%): Villa Maria city, Villa Nueva, and Cordoba cit y in 1995, and Juarez Celman and Jesus Maria in 1996. In Villa Maria a nd Villa Nueva, Ae. aegypti was present until June 1995 (autumn) and r eappeared in December 1995. In Cordoba city, Ae. aegypti was eliminate d from the only positive house in May 1995, but it reappeared in March 1996. Reappearence of Ae. aegypti in this temperate area in early sum mer may have been due to the survival of individuals during winter and not to reintroduction during summertime. The last previous active sur veillance for Ae. aegypti in Cordoba Province was carried out more tha n 30 years ago.