Quintana Roo Bolsters Surveillance to Keep Malaria-Free Status

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — Quintana Roo will expand epidemiological surveillance, diagnostic testing and vector control to hold on to the malaria-free certification it received in July, state health officials said.

The certification, which recognizes the absence of locally transmitted malaria in the state, was granted by CENAPRECE, the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control. During the fourth session of the State Technical Group on Malaria, the state Health Department presented its 2027 work plan, which sets targets for preventing the reestablishment of local transmission and sharpening the response to any suspected cases.

Coordinated Action Across Health Agencies

The plan calls for coordinated work in several areas:

• Epidemiological surveillance and international health measures
• Medical care and laboratory diagnosis
• Vector control
• Public health promotion

Officials said the aim is to detect possible cases promptly and stop any local transmission before it spreads.

At the session, officials presented recognitions to the technical groups of the state’s three health jurisdictions, as well as to IMSS-Bienestar, IMSS (Mexican Social Security Institute), ISSSTE, the State Public Health Laboratory and the vector and microscopy teams that helped secure the certification.

Health Secretary Jorge Gutiérrez Contreras said the certification was the result of joint work by the institutions and their health personnel. Officials stressed that keeping the recognition will require permanent vigilance and coordination among the state’s health agencies.