Assessing the case of Dengue in Argentina 2009: discrimination and fear

Abstract

After almost a decade, the re-appearance of Dengue in Argentina caused panic and fears. Unlike Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay where policies of preventions have been followed, the future of dengue is uncertain for Argentina; this paper does not have any political affiliation but emphasizes the role that mass media play in the coverage of epidemics. The question as to whether a newspaper or mass media corporation should maintain a minimum of objectivity is too complex to be resolved in this short article. However, we have so far set forth a model which will help other researchers to interpret topics of this nature in the future. In moments of disorder, uncertainty or disaster, societies experience a shift in the ways they perceive reality. As has been previously developed, uncertainty, gossip and ideological facets are inherent in all cases of social disturbances.