This August 26th marks International Dengue Day, a day that seeks to raise public awareness and promote prevention of this disease transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. To date, it remains one of the main public health problems in the Yucatán Peninsula.
Despite the efforts of authorities and communities, which have managed to reduce infections at various times, transmission of the virus continues in the three states of the region.
A tally conducted by La Verdad Noticias based on cases confirmed by state and federal health authorities over the past five years shows that dengue has been uneven: in some periods, infections increase rapidly and in others, they decrease, but it has never completely disappeared.
In 2020, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, 415 cases were reported, with Quintana Roo leading the way with 228, followed by Yucatán with 147, and Campeche with 40. During 2021, cases dropped dramatically to 37 across the region, reflecting the fact that the majority of the population remained at home as part of preventive measures against COVID-19, which also contributed to reducing the transmission of the dengue virus.
Rebound and control: the rise and fall of dengue infections
But the calm was momentary, as in 2022 and 2023, dengue returned with a vengeance. In 2022, 1,210 cases were reported, and in 2023, infections soared to 67,555, with Yucatán reporting 10,460 cases, Quintana Roo 5,163, and Campeche 1,932.
The most difficult years forced authorities to strengthen fumigation campaigns, yard cleanups, and awareness campaigns so families could learn how to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and thereby break the virus’s infection cycle.
As a result of these efforts, infections began to decline monthly in 2024, resulting in a total of 1,992 cases in the Yucatán Peninsula accumulated over the past year.
Today, the outlook is more encouraging. According to the latest records, as of August 18, 2025, 238 positive cases of dengue fever have been recorded on the peninsula, of which 118 are in Quintana Roo, 100 in Yucatán, and 20 in Campeche. Although the numbers are much lower than in 2023, dengue fever is still present, reminding us that the virus has not gone away.
It’s worth remembering that the region’s rainy, warm climate favors the presence of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is why surveillance, fumigation, and prevention efforts are intensified each year.
Containing the Virus on the Peninsula
Flavio Carlos Rosado, head of the State Health Services (Sesa) of Quintana Roo, attributed these results to the preventive efforts implemented throughout the state since the start of the administration, as well as to the investment in health care, particularly in the area of epidemiological surveillance.
“From 2023 to date, more than 468 million pesos have been allocated for the prevention and treatment of vector-borne diseases such as dengue fever. This has been achieved through the acquisition of equipment, vehicles, and fumigation tools.
“This is a significant figure that the governor managed to double to continue serving the population in a timely and efficient manner,” he said.
He explained that part of the preventive strategies implemented in the state are junk removal campaigns, where citizens can dispose of all waste that could be breeding grounds for mosquito larvae.
“Today we have more vehicles not only for fumigation, but also to carry out junk removal campaigns with the support of the Public Works Secretariats in each municipality. This doesn’t stop the mosquito from growing at its roots,” he said.
The secretary emphasized that although dengue cases in the state are declining, it is important not to let our guard down and continue implementing preventive measures to prevent the formation of breeding grounds for the mosquito larvae that transmit it. He also emphasized opening doors and windows when Sesa personnel conduct fumigation patrols in neighborhoods.
“It’s a fight we’re winning, and we can’t be complacent. We must maintain care at home and continue preventive measures to ensure the state continues to reduce its ranking of cases,” he said.
Source: laverdadnoticias
