Mexico: Dengue fever rates spike in Jalisco state (center-west)

Event

Dengue fever transmission rates have tripled since mid-September (as of mid-November) in Jalisco, prompting the federal government to deploy a team of 100 health workers to the state to address the outbreak. According to official statistics, 6100 cases of the disease were reported in Jalisco (capital Guadalajara) in the first ten months of the year, although the true number is likely significantly higher. Rates have been particularly high in the Guadalajara region, notably in the Constitución neighborhood of Zapopan municipality.

Nationwide, a total of 58,697 cases of dengue fever had been reported through October.

Context

Symptoms of dengue fever, transmitted via the Aedes aegypti mosquito, typically include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea, and rash. Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is a potentially deadly complication that is characterized by high fever, the enlargement of the liver, and hemorrhaging. The disease is mostly found in urban and semi-urban areas. Be aware that aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen) should be avoided as these drugs may worsen bleeding issues associated with the diseases; patients may be given doses of acetaminophen (paracetamol).

As a reminder, other mosquito-borne diseases are present in the country, predominantly in the south, including malaria (in rural areas of Chiapas state), the Zika virus, and chikungunya.

Advice

Individuals in Jalisco, and Mexico more generally, are advised to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites - e.g. by wearing loose, covering clothing, using insect repellent, and sleeping in a screened-in or in air-conditioned room.