Argentina sees rise in carbon monoxide poisonings

Two recent incidents in the city of Comodoro, Argentina, highlighted the danger of carbon monoxide (CO) exposure. A couple in the Próspero Palazzo neighbourhood were treated for headaches and vomiting after a suspected leak from a heater, while a woman in the René Favaloro neighbourhood was found unconscious with a strong CO odor and later recovered after emergency care.

National data released by the Argentine Association of Respiratory Medicine (AAMR) show that, up to epidemiological week 25 of 2026, 781 CO poisoning cases and 12 deaths were reported, a 7.4% increase over the same period in 2025. The rise coincides with colder temperatures and greater use of heating appliances, especially gas stoves, furnaces and wood heaters. The AAMR urges regular maintenance of heating devices, proper ventilation, and public awareness of CO symptoms such as headache, dizziness and nausea.