Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – As the rainy season increases mosquito activity, Jalisco health officials have launched a month-long fumigation campaign across every neighborhood in Puerto Vallarta. The effort combines fogging with cleanup, larval control, and public participation to reduce dengue risk and protect community health.
The Jalisco Health Secretariat has begun a comprehensive fogging operation that will reach every neighborhood in Puerto Vallarta over the next four weeks as part of an intensified effort to curb the spread of dengue fever.
The campaign is part of a statewide strategy to reduce mosquito-borne illnesses during the rainy season, when conditions favor the rapid growth of mosquito populations. Puerto Vallarta remains one of the municipalities under the closest epidemiological surveillance because of increased vector activity.
Jaime Álvarez Zayas, head of Health Region VIII, said the operation began this week with support from the State Vector Control Program. Crews will complete weekly fumigation cycles throughout the city to reduce the number of adult mosquitoes capable of transmitting disease.
Health officials are using heat maps to guide the operation, allowing them to focus first on areas where the greatest concentration of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes has been detected. This species is responsible for spreading dengue, as well as Zika and chikungunya.
After the citywide campaign is completed, authorities will review updated epidemiological data to identify neighborhoods where mosquito activity remains elevated. Future control efforts will then focus on those locations.
The initiative extends well beyond fogging. It also includes neighborhood cleanup campaigns, larval control measures, the removal of mosquito breeding sites, and ongoing epidemiological surveillance designed to contain the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.
Health officials stressed that while fumigation is effective in reducing the adult mosquito population, the most important preventive measure begins at home. Residents are encouraged to eliminate standing water from patios, gardens, and other areas where mosquitoes can breed.
Simple actions such as washing, covering, or turning over water-holding containers, keeping water storage tanks tightly sealed, and maintaining clean yards can significantly reduce breeding sites and help protect entire neighborhoods.
Puerto Vallarta has confirmed approximately 100 dengue cases during the early months of the 2026 season. Although the number of cases in the municipality remain low, health authorities have identified the area as one requiring continued attention as mosquito activity increases ahead of the peak rainy season.
Officials say the success of the campaign depends on a combination of coordinated public health efforts and community participation, giving residents an important role in helping reduce the spread of dengue and keeping Puerto Vallarta healthier throughout the season.
Your local news matters. Banderas News is your trusted source for Puerto Vallarta news and information, keeping you informed about the issues that affect your daily life. Unlike other media outlets, we believe news should be free and accessible to everyone. Your contribution helps us maintain this commitment and continue serving our community.