Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – Puerto Vallarta finds itself at the forefront of a concerning trend as dengue fever cases continue to rise. While the incidence rate might not be the highest, recent data from the Jalisco Health Secretariat’s aguaconeldengue portal reveals that Puerto Vallarta has the highest number of confirmed cases in the state.
As of February 5, the portal reports a total of 15 confirmed dengue cases in Puerto Vallarta, translating to an incidence rate of 4.88 per one hundred thousand inhabitants. This surge in cases has pushed Puerto Vallarta to the top spot among the ten municipalities in Jalisco where dengue cases have been reported during epidemiological week 5, with three new cases added since the previous week’s report.
The increase in confirmed cases within Puerto Vallarta is notable, with numbers rising from 11 to 15 between the fourth and fifth epidemiological weeks. Notably, Puerto Vallarta is one of the two municipalities in the northern coastal region grappling with dengue cases, with Tomatlán being the other municipality, reporting a total of 2 cases.
At the state level, Jalisco has recorded 41 confirmed dengue cases, with a significant portion—36.58 percent—concentrated in Puerto Vallarta. This alarming scenario has prompted action from the Interinstitutional Commission of the Transsectoral Unit for the Prevention and Control of Vector-Transmitted Diseases.
This Monday, the commission announced its intention to petition the state Legislative Branch to engage all 125 municipalities in efforts to ramp up preventive measures against dengue. The proposed actions include ensuring consistent water supply, proper collection, and disposal of tires, as well as conducting thorough inspections of public spaces to eliminate potential breeding sites, such as public squares, cemeteries, and municipal buildings.
Furthermore, the commission aims to intervene in vacant lots and uninhabited houses, while also supervising high-risk areas such as nurseries, tire factories, and scrap yards to maintain dengue-free environments. Additionally, there will be a concerted effort to promote and disseminate preventive measures among the general population to mitigate the spread of the disease.
Fernando Petersen Aranguren, the head of the Jalisco Health Secretariat, emphasized the importance of collective action in combating the dengue outbreak. The proposed measures underscore the urgent need for proactive measures to curb the spread of this mosquito-borne disease, safeguarding the health and well-being of residents across Puerto Vallarta and beyond.
