PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) – Amid the third heatwave impacting the country, a sharp uptick in heat-related illnesses have been reported across Jalisco and Puerto Vallarta, the latter accounting for a staggering 91% of the confirmed cases.
As per the Ministry of Health’s data, 95 cases have been recorded in the VIII Sanitary Region in Puerto Vallarta, while the state overall has reported a total of 104 cases since the start of the hot season in March. This month, the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area has witnessed extreme temperatures of up to 37 degrees Celsius while some municipalities in Jalisco have exceeded 40 degrees Celsius, due to the ongoing heatwave, as per the National Meteorological Service (SMN).
In response to these drastic conditions, the Jalisco Health Secretariat (SSJ) has been actively disseminating precautionary guidelines to the populace.
“High temperatures can lead to a number of health problems such as dehydration, sunstroke, heat stroke, sunburn, and diarrheal diseases. Individuals with existing health conditions are at an additional risk for complications,” explained Dr. David Paz Cabrales Balderas, an associate doctor with the SSJ’s Subdirectorate of Programs.
He emphasized the necessity for people to be able to recognize symptoms of heat-induced illnesses, to ensure timely intervention and seek medical attention if needed. Signs of dehydration, according to Dr. Paz Cabrales, include thirst, dizziness, irritability, headaches, dry and pale skin, weakness or fatigue, excessive sweating followed by a lack of sweat, skin redness and dryness, fever, erratic behavior, rapid heart rate, weak pulse, and seizure attacks.
Furthermore, Dr. Paz Cabrales highlighted other alarming indicators like hot, dry skin without perspiration, confusion or loss of consciousness, frequent vomiting, and difficulty breathing, urging people to remain vigilant.
In terms of confirmed cases, at the conclusion of the epidemiological week no. 22, Jalisco registered 104 cases related to extreme temperatures, validated at the federal level. Of these, 81 cases were of dehydration (78%) and 23 of heat stroke (22%). Puerto Vallarta accounted for the lion’s share with 95 cases (91%), followed by Colotlán with five (5%) and Ameca with two (2%). Other regions reporting cases include Autlán and the Tlaquepaque Region, specifically in the municipality of San Pedro Tlaquepaque, each with a single case.
This surge in heat-related diseases underlines the urgent need for local authorities to ramp up preventive measures and health advisories to mitigate further escalation as the country grapples with the effects of an unforgiving heatwave.
