Alarming Rise in Dengue Cases in Tulum

TULUM, Mexico – In a concerning development, the number of suspected dengue cases in the city has seen a significant rise, according to Sonia Vargas Torres, the municipal Health Director. She detailed how the daily reported cases have jumped from two to seven.

In an interview, the municipal Health Director pointed out that these patient reports are only coming in from health centers. However, she acknowledged that many private clinics and laboratories are not sharing this data with state health services.

She noted that despite sending notices to pharmacies, clinics, and laboratories, many are not efficiently reporting these cases. This failure to report is making it impossible to identify the infection hotspots in the municipality and implement effective containment measures.

In response to this situation, Vargas Torres announced that the municipal vector control department will launch a fumigation campaign in the coming weeks to reduce the number of suspected cases and prevent further spread.

“We will conduct fumigation over the next three weeks in various neighborhoods and districts, targeting areas with red flags on the ovitraps,” she stated.

Vargas Torres mentioned that a total of four vehicles, two state-owned and two municipal, will participate in the fumigation efforts. The fumigation began yesterday and will continue today in the Centro Uno, Centro Dos, and Las Palmas neighborhoods.

Tomorrow, vector control personnel will fumigate the Crista, Triunfadores, Villas Tulum, Maya Pax, and Guerra de Castas neighborhoods. She urged residents to keep doors and windows open during the vehicle’s passage.

While the official start is today, fumigations began yesterday, with plans to fumigate Centro Uno, Centro Dos, and Las Palmas today, followed by Crista, Triunfadores, Villas Tulum, Maya Pax, and Guerra de Castas tomorrow.

Preventing Dengue:

To protect yourself and your community from dengue, here are some crucial steps you can take:

1. Eliminate Breeding Sites: Mosquitoes that carry the dengue virus breed in standing water. Regularly check your property for containers, old tires, and other objects that collect water and remove them or empty the water to prevent mosquito breeding.
2. Use Mosquito Nets and Repellents: When spending time outdoors, especially during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active, use mosquito nets and apply mosquito repellent to exposed skin.
3. Wear Protective Clothing: Cover your skin with long sleeves and pants to reduce mosquito bites.
4. Secure Doors and Windows: Ensure that doors and windows have screens to keep mosquitoes out of your home.
5. Support Fumigation Efforts: Cooperate with local health authorities during fumigation campaigns by keeping doors and windows open for effective mosquito control.
6. Stay Informed: Keep yourself informed about dengue prevention measures and follow health advisories issued by local authorities.

By following these guidelines and working together as a community, we can reduce the risk of dengue transmission in Tulum and protect our loved ones from this mosquito-borne disease.