Yucatán Cuts Dengue Cases by 87.8% With No Deaths, Officials Say

Mérida, Yucatán — Yucatán has recorded an 87.8% reduction in dengue cases compared to the same period last year, with no deaths reported, according to state health officials.

Miguel Alberto Alcocer Gamboa, Yucatán’s Secretary of Health and director general of the state health services, presented the results during a morning press conference led by Governor Joaquín Díaz Mena. He attributed the decline to a comprehensive strategy combining mass fumigation, breeding site control, and the release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes.

Alcocer said preventive actions have covered 75 municipalities and more than 42,000 hectares against dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. The approach has helped prevent overcrowding at medical facilities, he added.

“These advances have allowed us to avoid saturation of medical units and strengthen specific prevention measures, not only through the work of vector brigades but also in coordination with municipal governments and citizen participation,” Alcocer said.

He emphasized that community efforts such as removing standing water, eliminating breeding sites, and using repellents have been key to the results, and called on residents to maintain shared responsibility for public health.

Alcocer also noted that since the state implemented a policy of free medical care, cashier stations have been eliminated at health units, removing economic barriers and generating an estimated savings of 2.93 million pesos for Yucatán families.

The state’s integration into the IMSS-Bienestar system represents a historic step for improving medical care, he said, incorporating 188 health units and securing better labor conditions for more than 6,000 health workers. Under the agreement, 6,407 of 8,653 workers — 74% — have transferred to IMSS-Bienestar standards.

The new Dr. Agustín O’Horán General Hospital is operating at over 70% occupancy with a medication supply rate near 95%, Alcocer reported. Work continues on implementing an electronic medical record system to strengthen universal care and coordination among health institutions.

Alcocer also highlighted the strengthening of the Yucatecan Network of Municipalities for Health, which coordinates with local governments on water quality, waste management, risk prevention, addiction control, and creation of public spaces that promote healthy lifestyles.

He reiterated the state government’s commitment to building a more accessible, efficient, and preventive health system.