PUERTO VALLARTA, JALISCO – As part of intensified efforts to reduce dengue fever cases in Puerto Vallarta, the Jalisco Ministry of Health, through the Eighth Health Region, has announced a large-scale fumigation operation covering more than 1,600 city blocks. The campaign seeks to diminish the presence of mosquitoes that transmit the dengue virus.
Jaime Álvarez Zayas, head of the Eighth Health Region, revealed that fumigation activities began Monday, using heavy machinery commonly seen on trucks during the early morning hours. “We’re going to spray 1,631 blocks,” explained Álvarez Zayas, adding that the selected areas were chosen based on confirmed cases and so-called “heat maps” indicating high mosquito presence.
“Once we identify where active transmission is taking place, we georeference the cases. Then we act with precision, exactly where the interventions are needed,” he said. The key hotspots, according to these maps, include the Ixtapa district, the upper part of El Pitillal, and the 5 de Diciembre neighborhood. Authorities plan to continue fumigation efforts in these areas for the next four weeks.
In addition to fumigation, officials will conduct house-to-house larval monitoring. During these visits, health workers will inspect containers, analyze any larvae detected, and apply abatement measures. Around 6,608 homes have been identified for inspection in the targeted neighborhoods.
“The goal,” Álvarez Zayas emphasized, “is to ensure that by the time the rainy season arrives, there will be as few vectors [mosquitoes] as possible, thus reducing the spread of this disease.”
Data on Dengue Infections
From January 1 to April 7, 2025, Puerto Vallarta recorded 118 dengue infections. Of these, 23 were classified as Non-Severe Dengue, 92 as Dengue with Warning Signs, and three as Severe Dengue. No hospitalizations are currently reported, and there have been no deaths. Health authorities hope that continued preventive measures will keep severe cases to a minimum and help protect public health throughout the remainder of the year.
