Chihuahua expands rickettsia prevention through ‘Patio de Mi Casa’ program

The Chihuahua Municipal Government, through the Municipal Institute for Health Care and Prevention (IMPAS), is expanding its ‘Patio de Mi Casa’ program to combat rickettsia. The initiative has reached 96 neighborhoods, benefiting over 81,000 to 91,000 residents through various preventative measures.

Key actions include more than 75,000 home and perimeter fumigations, 15,000 ectoparasite treatments, approximately 9,000 rabies vaccinations, and fumigation efforts in 94 parks. To enhance effectiveness, the program has introduced new strategies: providing prepared fumigation pumps to families for indoor use under professional supervision, and deploying medical caravans consisting of doctors and nurses to conduct home visits for individuals with suspected or confirmed cases.

Luis Carlos Esquivel, subdirector of Health Promotion and Care at IMPAS, noted that these interventions aim to complement previous efforts that focused primarily on yards and surroundings. The program seeks to address the presence of ticks in soil, wood, and vegetation to reduce infection risks.