Influenza Cases Rise in Quintana Roo, Vaccination Intensified

Quintana Roo — Amid an increase in influenza infections during the winter season and following confirmation of the first death associated with the disease in Quintana Roo, health authorities have intensified their call for the population to attend vaccination campaigns, considered the primary tool to reduce risks and prevent more severe cases in the state.

According to the state epidemiological surveillance system, Quintana Roo has accumulated 49 confirmed cases and 494 suspected cases of influenza, figures that show an increase compared to previous weeks and place the state among those with the highest surge nationally. In the peninsular region, it is also so far the only entity that has recorded a death from this cause in the current season.

While at the federal level the first case in Mexico of influenza A(H3N2) subclade K was recently confirmed, health authorities in Quintana Roo clarified that this variant is not circulating in the state. They specified that the only identified case of H3N2 corresponds to a usual seasonal lineage, similar to what occurs each year, and not to the variant that has generated alerts in countries in Asia and Europe.

Nevertheless, the state Ministry of Health emphasized that the combination of cold fronts and increased circulation of respiratory viruses raises the risk of complications, particularly among the most vulnerable groups, so it insisted on the importance of strengthening vaccination coverage during the winter months.

Currently, Quintana Roo maintains an active immunization campaign with triple protection against influenza, COVID-19, and pneumococcus, which began on October 13 and will extend until April 3, 2026. The established goal is 458,456 doses across the entire state territory; so far, the reported progress is 44 percent, equivalent to 203,570 applications.

The authorities made a priority call to children between 6 and 59 months, older adults, pregnant women, people with chronic diseases—such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension, or asthma—and health personnel, to go to medical centers and complete their vaccination schedule.

Finally, the Ministry of Health reiterated that, although there is no health alert due to the presence of high-concern variants in the state, the confirmation of a death and the increase in cases require not letting down their guard. Epidemiological surveillance remains active in Quintana Roo, while authorities insist that prevention and timely vaccination are key to stopping the spread of the virus and preventing more human losses.