Atlántico authorities launch mosquito control campaign to prevent dengue

Authorities in the Atlántico department and the city of Barranquilla are intensifying efforts to combat the proliferation of mosquitoes following a transition from drought to a rainy season. The increase in rainfall has led to stagnant water accumulation, creating breeding grounds for the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits dengue.

The Gobernación del Atlántico has launched the Departmental Week Against Dengue, running from October 13 to 16 across 22 municipalities. This initiative includes the ‘Día D contra el Dengue’ (D-Day against Dengue), featuring community mobilizations to eliminate mosquito breeding sites in homes and schools. Educational workshops are being conducted to teach residents how to clean water storage tanks and recognize early symptoms of the disease.

Medical specialists, including infectologist Jesús Tapia, have noted that the surge is linked to climate changes and have urged environmental authorities to implement emergency plans. Key breeding sites identified include unused swimming pools, abandoned tires, and open landfills. Experts distinguish between the Aedes aegypti, which breeds in clean water, and the Culex mosquito, which thrives in turbid or contaminated water.