Dengue in Mexico: reduction of cases and new strategies
Between January and May 2026, four deaths from dengue were recorded in Mexico, reported the Secretary of Health, David Kershenobich. The deaths occurred in Veracruz, Tabasco, Michoacán and Oaxaca. The official highlighted a significant reduction in cases compared to the 2024 and 2025 outbreak.
“We had a real, very important outbreak of dengue in the period of 2024 and 2025 and we have managed to reduce it very significantly,” he said.
The government goal is to reduce new cases of dengue, Zika and chikungunya by 50% by 2030. Kershenobich affirmed that they could overcome it thanks to prevention actions.
Among the strategies is the campaign “Five steps to a home without mosquitoes”, which promotes eliminating breeding sites. They are also advancing with mosquitoes infected with the Wolbachia bacteria, which inhibits the transmission of the virus. The program began in Yucatán and Baja California Sur and will expand to Tabasco, Oaxaca, Morelos, Aguascalientes, Chiapas and Jalisco.
“If we manage to change the entire mosquito population, there are countries that have managed to eradicate dengue in three years,” he stated.
In terms of vaccines, one developed in Japan already has a Cofepris health registration and is integrated into the National Compendium of Health Supplies. In addition, Mexico is collaborating with Brazil’s Butantan Institute for a second vaccine aimed at specific populations, such as the Huasteca region, where different genotypes of the virus circulate.
“We are working on the criteria to be able to apply the dengue vaccine,” he explained.
Finally, the National Vaccination Day and the National Public Health Week, with the participation of the 32 entities, reached more than 20 million people through prevention and health promotion.




