Aedes aegypti mosquitoes detected in Iquique and Antofagasta

Health authorities in northern Chile have detected the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the carrier of dengue, zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever, in the regions of Tarapacá and Antofagasta.

In Iquique, the Seremi de Salud reported finding eggs, larvae, and adult mosquitoes within the premises of the local Prosecutor's Office. Following these findings, health teams announced fumigation efforts in approximately 270 properties over a seven-day period. Surveillance is being reinforced using ovitraps to monitor the insect's spread.

In Antofagasta, the mosquito has been identified in 20 locations, primarily in the Polideportivo Centenario sector and Tocopilla. To raise awareness, health officials conducted educational campaigns at local cemeteries, advising citizens to replace water-filled flower vases with damp sand or sponges and to ensure all water containers, such as buckets and pet bowls, are tightly sealed to prevent breeding.