Mosquitoes in Mexico are most commonly found during the mosquito season that runs from April to November. Areas in the south of Mexico such as Chiapas, Tabasco, and Yucatan often experience more mosquitoes in this period than areas further north.
Researchers from the United States and Mexico began to apply in Yucatan a new method to control the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which transmits diseases such as dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika.
Researchers from the University of Yucatán and research centers from the Universities of “Emory” in Atlanta, Florida, and Washington, in the United States, use this technique called “TIRS”.
It involves the use of an insecticide that is applied to the walls of the houses, without causing harm to people, flora, or fauna.
"This is a residual insecticide, which means, once you put it on it has a long-term effect, in this case it has an effect of 6 to 7 months, this is an opportunity to put it months before the outbreak begins," reported Norma Pavía, Research Center "Hideyo Noguchi" UADY.
"It is safe both for humans who apply it and for residents of houses and pets, this product lasts and is slowly released in contact, not in the air, only when a mosquito or insect contacts the surface," added Gonzalo Vázquez from Emory University, Atlanta.
This method authorized by the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as authorities in Mexico and Yucatán, was used in the first phase in 2,500 properties in Mérida.
"The objective is to cover all these localities in order to reduce the risk of the outbreak of the transmitting mosquito Aedes Aegypti, which transmits Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya", commented Jorge Palacios, Coordinator of Vectors Ministry of Health in Yucatan
At Claudia’s house, in Mérida, this system was used eight days ago, she came out of a dengue condition.
“Right now, as we are in the rain, the mosquitoes come out and to avoid that use that repellent. My body ached, I didn't get up, I was very lazy, I consulted and it was dengue ”, said Claudia Gómez.
This technique, used for the first time in June 2020, in Australia, will be extended to four other municipalities in Yucatán, prior to the rainy season in late April.
Yucatán closed the year 2020 with 147 cases of dengue and three deaths due to this desease.
Source: Noticieros Televisa