Dengue cases are increasing in the Mexican Caribbean this year, and travelers should be sure to take preventive measures against the mosquito-borne disease when visiting the area on vacation.
Here’s what we know so far about the increasing threat of tropical diseases in the area.
Risk high in the Mexican Caribbean
According to the now final figures from the Mexican Ministry of Health, the state of Yucatan, located west of Cancun and including the popular tourist destination Merida, had the highest number of deaths from dengue in 27 years in 2023.
A total of 71 people lost their lives to the tropical disease, for a total of more than 10,000 cases statewide.
Overall, it was the third highest region in the country in terms of the number of people affected by the disease.
In the state of Quintana Roo, which includes popular tourist attractions such as Cancun, Tulum and Playa del Carmen, a total of forty people died from dengue last year. There have been more than 5,300 cases in the state alone.
What exactly is dengue?
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dengue Fever, also known as ‘breakbone fever’, is spread in tropical areas by mosquito bites and affects up to 400 million people annually
Most people experience mild symptoms of the disease, such as aches and pains that usually occur behind the eyes; nausea, vomiting and rash. Symptoms usually start about two weeks after you are bitten by an infected mosquito.
Symptoms that are emergencies and require immediate medical care include stomach pain, bleeding, excessive vomiting, or feeling extremely tired or restless. About one in twenty will have symptoms that require urgent medical care.
How to treat and prevent dengue
Dengue usually lasts two to seven days and is treated with rest, paracetamol and plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
The CDC states that there are no approved medications available to treat dengue, nor is there a vaccine available for travelers. A vaccine has been recommended for use in children living in an area prone to dengue.
To prevent dengue, travelers in tropical locations, including the Mexican Caribbean, should use an approved mosquito repellent spray that is widely available in drugstores and pharmacies.
Tourists should also wear loose-fitting shirts and long-sleeved pants.
Mosquitoes usually bite during feeding times in the early morning and early evening. Travelers should be aware of the need to protect themselves, especially during these times. However, mosquito bites can occur at any time, even in the evening.
Visitors to the Mexican Caribbean should avoid spending excessive amounts of time near standing water, ponds and pools where mosquitoes breed.
What travelers need to know
Tourists visiting the Mexican Caribbean are advised to carry commercially available mosquito repellent in their checked luggage, as well as a hat and paracetamol in case of an infection.
It should be noted that acetaminophen is more commonly known as paracetamol outside the United States, in case more is needed while visiting the Mexican Caribbean.
Visitors should monitor their health symptoms for signs of dengue, usually within a week or two of returning from their vacation to the sun, sand and surf of the Mexican Caribbean.
Due to the increase in dengue cases in the Mexican Caribbean, visitors to the Mexican Caribbean are recommended to obtain travel insurance during their stay, which includes emergency medical coverage and treatment for dengue.
