Four years after the emergence of Covid-19, the disease seems almost forgotten. However, the rainy season in Yucatán brings a resurgence of mosquito-borne illnesses. These include dengue, zika, chikungunya, malaria, and the newly identified Oropouche fever. Unlike Covid-19, these diseases cannot be prevented with social distancing, hand washing, or mask wearing.

"These diseases are transmitted by mosquitos, specifically the Culex, Aedes aegypti, Anopheles and other species, which thrive in the rainy conditions," explains Manuel Baeza Bacab, a Clinical Immunology and Allergy specialist at the Faculty of Medicine at Uady.

The impending mosquito influx and the lack of a fumigation plan or preventive measures to control their numbers create a situation where avoiding bites will be nearly impossible. The risk of contracting a disease from a mosquito bite, while well-known, is still dangerous due to the lack of specific treatments or preventive measures.

"Calamities never come alone. We've already seen the simultaneous presence of Covid-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and even monkeypox," says Dr. Baeza Bacab. "Now, with the inevitable proliferation of mosquitos, we're at risk of contracting dengue, zika, chikungunya, malaria."

Adding to the health concerns, authorities have issued a travel alert due to the possibility of contracting a new disease in the Yucatán Peninsula: Oropouche fever. This viral disease, transmitted by mosquitos, causes symptoms such as headaches, muscle and joint pain, fever, shivers, nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, skin rashes, and bleeding gums or nose. In severe cases, it can lead to meningitis or encephalitis. Oropouche fever is already present in several countries in America, including Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Cuba.

With the impending large-scale outbreak of mosquitos in Yucatán, concerns are rising about the potential for increased severity of dengue and Covid-19 due to the diseases typical of the rainy season.