New dengue cases have tripled over the past week, according to Yucatán’s health authority.
Dengue is caused by a virus spread through the bite of the Aedes mosquito, common in subtropical regions, including Yucatán.
Over the past month, roughly two people have come down with severe symptoms per day.
Symptoms of dengue include high fever, headache, body aches, pain behind the eyes, rashes as well as nausea, and vomiting.
In severe cases, the infection can be a cause of death.
The explosion of dengue cases in the region is likely due to the intense rains that have hit the region over the past few weeks — as aedes mosquitos reproduce in standing water accumulated in puddles.
“The state government is working with municipalities to ramp up spraying and other effort to combat the spread of this disease,” said Yucatán Governor Mauricio Villa Dosal.
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Officials also patrol neighborhoods to ensure properties are clean and tidy of useless objects that accumulate water, which are potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
The use of screens on doors and windows is also recommended, as dengue infections often happen in the home.
Mosquitoes can breed very quickly. A single female mosquito can lay hundreds of eggs, and these eggs can hatch in as little as a few days.
Historically the period between July to September is the heaviest for mosquito breading and dengue infections in Yucatán, though the risk technically exists year-round.
