Reported cases of dengue in the Yucatán have gone down to zero.
Transmitted through mosquito bites, dengue is a tropical disease that causes symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash.
The last recorded case of the disease in Yucatán was registered in the final days of 2020.
Infections also seem to be way down across Mexico, with a national decrease of 87.7%, according to federal health authorities.
“We have been working extremely hard to eradicate dengue and other mosquito-transmitted diseases from the state. To this end we have made substantial investments and expanded our coverage to regions we were not able to reach before,” said Jorge Alfredo Palacio Vargas, of Yucatán’s health authority.
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Mosquitos capable of transmitting the dengue virus to humans belong to a species known as Aedes. This genus of mosquitoes was originally found in tropical and subtropical zones but now is found on all continents except Antarctica.
Other diseases transmitted by mosquito bites include the Zika virus, West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus, and malaria.
In recent years, state governments have made combating mosquito-transmitted diseases a public health priority.
Trucks fitted with special spray equipment can be used to treat areas with larvicides to kill mosquito larvae. Truck spraying, which has become a common sight in Yucatan, is used to control and reduce the number of mosquitoes that can spread viruses such as dengue.
It is also recommended to properly discard objects such as old tires and soft drink bottles in which water may stagnate and serve as a breeding ground for mosquitos.
