Puerto Vallarta health officials are asking for a permanent way to dispose of used tires before more are left in streets, vacant lots, rivers, and streambeds. The request came after cleanup crews found tires during mosquito-breeding site removal work in Jardines del Bosque, Bosques del Progreso, and Magisterio. Officials say tires remain one of the city’s recurring dengue risks because they hold water and are difficult for many residents to move or discard without help or clear collection options.
Health officials want a tire plan before rains increase dengue risk
Puerto Vallarta health officials are calling for a permanent tire-disposal plan to keep used tires out of streets, vacant lots, rivers, and streambeds.
The request comes as local and state crews continue dengue prevention work before the rainy season. Tires are a problem because they collect water, giving mosquitoes a place to breed.
Jaime Álvarez Zayas, director of Jalisco’s Eighth Health Region, said tires are among the biggest local risks for mosquito proliferation in Puerto Vallarta.
His comments followed a joint cleanup in Jardines del Bosque, Bosques del Progreso, and Magisterio. Crews found tires in public areas and along stream margins during work to remove possible mosquito breeding sites.
Weekly cleanup work is still finding discarded tires
Health and municipal crews hold weekly cleanup days to remove junk and other items that can collect water. The Patio Limpio program also continues daily work through its own brigades.
During the cleanup days, temporary collection points are set up for household junk. The material is then removed for disposal.
Officials say the tire issue needs a separate answer. Used tires are bulky, hard for many residents to move, and often require a trip to the El Gavilán disposal site.
Álvarez said some people leave tires in vacant lots or public areas because they are charged to dispose of them at El Gavilán. Others do not have a way to transport them there.
He called for a permanent municipal program that allows residents to discard used tires at no cost. No start date or operating details were provided.
Two dengue cases confirmed so far in Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta has two confirmed dengue cases so far, according to the local health region.
Officials are trying to prevent a larger increase later in the year. Álvarez said September and October are the months when a possible rise in cases would be expected.
Dengue is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. It does not spread directly from person to person.
Public health agencies advise residents to avoid standing water around homes, patios, and businesses. That includes buckets, containers, trash, uncovered water storage, and tires.
For foreign residents, the practical advice is the same as for local households. Remove anything that holds rainwater, report abandoned tires where appropriate, and follow local cleanup schedules when they are announced.
Old tires have caused wider problems before
Álvarez also referred to the collapse of the Cuale bridge in August 2021. He said the collapse was linked to a barrier of tires carried by floodwater, not only the force of the water itself.
The comment points to a broader concern. Tires dumped in rivers and streams can create public health risks before the rains arrive. Once heavy rain begins, they can also move with floodwater and block channels.
Health officials are now asking for a standing system, rather than relying only on cleanup days. The goal is to reduce dumping before tires become mosquito sites or storm debris.
