Dengue cases on the rise; calls for extreme preventive measures

Judith contracted dengue fever in early March, just as spring was beginning and the heat was intense. A resident of Lomas de Tabachines, Zapopan, one of the neighborhoods with the highest prevalence of the disease, she lives behind a stream where the stagnant, filthy water "is a breeding ground for mosquitoes." Although Ministry of Health brigades regularly come to fumigate at least two days a week, they try to keep the windows closed and turn over containers to prevent water from stagnating, as she doesn't want to go through the same "suffering" as before.

So far this year, more than half of the 706 positive cases of dengue fever are severe or show warning signs, with 364. In the first five months of 2024, only 84 had been recorded. Miguel Becerra García, state dengue coordinator for the Jalisco Decentralized Public Health Services Agency, indicated that there is alarm throughout the state due to the rise in cases, especially in the health regions of Autlán, Puerto Vallarta, and the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area.

The doctor also noted that the fumigation teams' work is not limited to the streets, as the mosquito that transmits the disease lives in containers where water accumulates . They also visit private homes to show the public the proper cleaning and prevention measures.

"We can't just spray. Mosquitoes are looking for a favorite place, and they'll be inside homes if the public doesn't allow us to enter as brigades. Above all, we need to eliminate potential breeding grounds, because mosquitoes reproduce very quickly."

Dengue is a serious disease that can be fatal if not treated promptly. Symptoms include headaches, muscle and joint pain, and pain behind the eyes; high fever; nausea; and vomiting. The state coordinator recommended staying hydrated and seeking medical attention immediately if a person suspects dengue fever. He urged the public to maintain preventive measures.

"Wash, cover, turn, throw away—those are musts. And when the Ministry of Health brigades come to your homes, let them in," he concluded.

Residents are asking for more fumigation brigades in their homes and neighborhoods.

Doña Félix Jiménez was sitting on the front of her house, in front of her table where she sells sweets and fried foods. She brushed a fly away from her face and stood up, remembering that her eight-year-old granddaughter, Lucía, had barely recovered from dengue fever, but her mother, Félix's daughter, "has had a high fever for about two days."

“I've already told him to go to the doctor, but he doesn't want to. He says he has to work, but the news said fever is one of the first symptoms of dengue. I ask the authorities to come more often. They come and are very kind and everything, but dengue is worse this year.”

Jalisco leads Mexico in dengue cases, with 706 infections as of May 29, more than 100 more than second-place Veracruz . Of these, more than half (364) are severe or have alarming symptoms, which is why state health authorities are maintaining containment, prevention, and combat actions in all 125 municipalities year-round , as dengue is not a disease exclusive to the hot season, explained Roberto Rivera Ávila, Director General of Public Health for the state Health Secretariat.

Cases in Jalisco until May 29, 2025

• Not serious: 342
• With warning signs: 341
• Grave: 23
• More serious warning signs: 364
• Total: 706

Colonies with the most cases

• Zapopan: Agua Fría, Tabachines Hills, Tabachines Hills and Balconies of the Quarry
• Tonalá: Lomas del Camichín, Loma Dorada, Jalisco sections 1, 2, and 3; Loma Bonita and Basilio Vadillo
• Tlaquepaque: New Santa Maria, Francisco I. Madero, Terralta, Miravalle and El Tapatio
• Guadalajara: Rancho Nuevo, Echeverría, Drive-in, La Esperanza, Balconies of Oblatos, Talpita and Blanco and Cuéllar

CT