Dengue in Yucatan
United States Consulate General Merida, Mexico
Message for U.S. Citizens
Dated July 3, 2012
Dengue
With the start of rainy season in the Yucatan peninsula, dengue is on the rise.
Dengue is spread by mosquitoes. To reduce the risk of contracting dengue, the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends wearing clothing that exposes as little skin as possible and applying a repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535 as the active ingredient. Additional precautions include:
- Installation of screens on all entrances to your living quarters and ensuring there are no areas near your home of stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed.
- Keep the interior and exterior of your house clear of places and things where mosquitoes may procreate (i.e. clean water fountains, ponds, empty buckets, trash cans, containers, etc)
- Keep your lawn trimmed and pruned. Trim weeds and dispose of your organic trash frequently. Check your patio/terraces for standing water and material that may attract mosquito presence.
- Dispose or tip over all containers that may hold water. Wash plant pots and wash your pet’s water dish.
- Check if the water tank (tinaco) on your roof is properly covered. Inspect for holes or damage in your window screens, sliding doors screens, etc.
- Consider outdoor fumigation services to control mosquito population in the exterior areas of your home.
For further information on dengue fever, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) web site at http://www.cdc.gov/dengue.
American citizens traveling or residing overseas are encouraged to register with the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate on the State Department's travel registration website at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.
For how to contact the U.S. Consulate General in Merida or Consular Agencies in Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Cozumel please visit http://merida.usconsulate.gov/service.html.
