Argentina’s tainted fentanyl crisis: Death toll surpasses 100
Argentina’s government says more than 100 people have died after receiving hospital fentanyl contaminated with bacteria, escalating a nationwide health scandal that began in May and has sparked protests, political accusations, and a sweeping criminal investigation. Officials pointed to HLB Pharma Group and its owner, Ariel García Furfaro, as the manufacturer of a contaminated batch, while noting the national drug regulator ANMAT had already shut down the lab months before the first reported deaths.
Authorities and courts are still assessing the full scope of the crisis, with earlier counts placing confirmed deaths at 87 and cautioning that the number could rise as hospitals review medical records across multiple provinces and Buenos Aires City. Investigators have identified bacterial contamination with Klebsiella pneumoniae and Ralstonia pickettii in affected fentanyl vials and patient samples, and are tracing distribution to hospitals in Buenos Aires Province and City, as well as other provinces including Santa Fe, Córdoba, and Formosa. Families of victims have staged silent demonstrations outside La Plata’s Hospital Italiano, demanding “justice for fentanyl victims” and faster answers from authorities.
HLB Pharma’s owner, García Furfaro, has denied responsibility, suggesting sabotage and arguing that patients had other serious infections, while media reports say at least 24 people connected to the manufacture and sale of the drug have been questioned, placed under travel bans, and had assets frozen. The President’s office intensified pressure by publicly naming García Furfaro and linking the case to political rivals, though without providing evidence, further inflaming tensions ahead of looming provincial and national legislative elections.
ANMAT triggered the probe after a hospital flagged contamination, leading to a nationwide stop-use order for suspect fentanyl lots and a wider review of hospital supplies, while experts warn the death toll may grow as additional cases are confirmed. Local reporting indicates several contaminated batches reached multiple hospitals, with investigations now expanding their scope to hundreds of medical files to determine causality and count unreported victims.
- Death toll: Government now cites 100+ deaths, up from earlier confirmed counts of at least 87, with potential for more as reviews continue.
- Source of contamination: Bacteria detected in fentanyl ampoules and patient samples; batches linked to HLB Pharma and a partner lab are under investigation.
- Legal status: No arrests announced to date; at least 24 people questioned, asset freezes and travel bans imposed as the court maps responsibility.
- Public response: Families protested in La Plata, where early deaths were reported, urging accountability and transparency.
- Politics: The crisis has become a flashpoint ahead of Buenos Aires Province elections on September 7 and national mid-terms in October, with high-profile accusations and calls for judicial changes in the case.
Statements from officials emphasize that the tragedy stems from contamination of a medical opioid widely used for pain relief and anesthesia, not from the drug’s chemical properties, underscoring regulatory and supply-chain failures under scrutiny. Health authorities continue to investigate distribution paths, lab practices, and hospital reporting to prevent further harm and clarify the chain of responsibility.
Source of news: Reports from international and Argentine outlets and agencies including Khaleej Times, Deutsche Welle (DW), Buenos Aires Times, Buenos Aires Herald, and related local coverage.
