Respiratory illnesses on the rise in Jalisco; residents urged to get vaccinated as a preventative measure.

In recent days, temperatures have dropped in various regions of the country, including the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area. For example, the Institute of Astronomy and Meteorology at the University of Guadalajara forecasts a slightly warm environment for the city during the middle of the day and cool conditions at night and until dawn, with maximum temperatures between 25-26 °C and minimum temperatures between 10-12 °C.

Thus, climate changes influence people's health, especially affecting respiratory diseases, which, in fact, have shown a slight increase in recent weeks in the State of Jalisco.

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According to the Epidemiological Bulletin of the Federal Ministry of Health, up to the most recent epidemiological week , number 43, ending on November 3rd, In Jalisco, there were 14,853 cases of pneumonia and bronchopneumonia , a figure higher than the 12,328 infections registered in the same epidemiological week of 2024.

Similarly, the number of influenza cases increased slightly; at the most recent count, there were 481 confirmed infections , compared to 404 reported in the same period last year.

Cases of pharyngitis and tonsillitis also increased : while in week 43 of 2024 there were 10,276 infections, in the same week of this year there are already 13,735.

The Ministry of Health also reported more cases of acute respiratory infections, with a total of 719,177 infections , a figure higher than the 691,213 reported in week 43 of 2024.

Vaccination is key to prevention

Given this situation, the Ministry of Health has called on the population, first and foremost, to prevent diseases through current vaccination programs.

For example, he recalled, the 2025-2026 Winter Season Vaccination Campaign is already underway, with the goal of administering 1,419,285 doses of the influenza vaccine and 370,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine between October 13 of this year and April 3, 2026, primarily aimed at protecting the most vulnerable groups.

"Vaccines are the most important prevention tool ever developed, throughout the entire history of humanity. Vaccines are more important than antibiotics, they are more important than practically any other prevention strategy," said Héctor Raúl Pérez Gómez, Jalisco's Secretary of Health, regarding the campaign.

The campaign is carried out in coordination with the Mexican Social Security Institute ( IMSS ), the Institute of Security and Social Services for State Workers ( ISSSTE ), the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of the Navy, the Municipal Medical Services and the OPD Civil Hospital of Guadalajara and Jalisco Health Services ; covering all regions of the State.

The State Health Department called on the public to go to their nearest health centers to receive the vaccine free of charge, quickly and safely.

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He also urged the population to implement complementary prevention measures, such as frequent hand washing, proper use of face masks in enclosed spaces, and ventilation of spaces.

Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of not self-medicating and seeing a doctor at the first sign of symptoms, such as runny nose, dry nose, body aches, or fever, because if they do not subside within three days, it could be another type of illness beyond a cold or flu, such as COVID-19, pneumonia, or bronchopneumonia, among others.

YC