Emergency Mosquito Fumigation in Isla Mujeres Saves Day

Vectors, the pest management department in Isla Mujeres, has announced an urgent fumigation program. The initiative was originally scheduled for October 30 and 31, but had to be postponed due to rain. The new fumigation efforts will take place on Thursday, November 7, during the early morning and afternoon hours.

Last week, the areas of Rancho Viejo, the agricultural region, and Francisco May were successfully fumigated as planned. The two municipal cemeteries in Isla Mujeres were also thermo-fumigated in preparation for the Day of the Dead commemorations. This was done to prevent the discomfort of mosquito bites for the many locals who visit the cemeteries during this time to honor their departed loved ones.

Gerardo Ventura Lugo Moguel, the head of Vectors, explained that ovitraps placed strategically in the mainland area collected a significant number of Aedes aegypti mosquito eggs. This discovery led to the decision to proceed with the fumigation, despite potential rain, in an effort to reduce the mosquito population and thereby decrease the risk of a dengue outbreak or other vector-borne diseases.

Moguel added that a study of adult mosquitoes on the island revealed that, despite their high population density, their bites are harmless to humans beyond causing minor burning and swelling. Given this, it was decided to tolerate the presence of these mosquitoes, which do not spread dengue, rather than risk wasting resources on fumigation that could be rendered ineffective by rain.