The Ensenada Health Jurisdiction has launched a mosquito control campaign in the Maneadero delegation, treating community water tanks with larvicide to prevent the spread of Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya before warmer months arrive.
The program, called the Arbovirosis Prevention Project, targets the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the species responsible for transmitting all three diseases. Health workers kicked off operations at the Ejido Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada communal office in the municipality’s southern zone.
How the Larvicide Treatment Works
Crews are applying BTI-Methoprene larvicide to water storage tanks throughout the Maneadero area. The microbial product kills mosquito larvae before they mature into biting adults. It has a residual effect lasting two to three months per application, meaning a single treatment can protect a water tank through the peak of the warm season.
Maneadero sits about 20 kilometers south of downtown Ensenada along the Transpeninsular Highway. The area is home to a large agricultural workforce and many residential communities where open or partially covered water storage tanks are common. Standing water in these tanks provides ideal breeding habitat for Aedes aegypti.
Ensenada’s History With Mosquito-Borne Disease
Ensenada has dealt with mosquito-borne illness before. In 2017, Mexican health officials confirmed a case of locally transmitted Zika virus in the city, prompting the California Department of Public Health to issue a travel advisory for the region. Baja California Sur and Sonora also reported local Zika transmission that year.
Northern Baja California’s semi-arid climate generally limits mosquito populations compared to tropical parts of Mexico. But irrigated agricultural zones like Maneadero, where standing water is plentiful, can support mosquito breeding even in drier conditions.
What Residents Can Do
Health authorities are asking residents in the Maneadero area to allow workers access to water storage tanks on their properties. Residents can also take their own steps: use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and pants during peak mosquito hours, and eliminate any standing water around homes, including in buckets, tires, and flower pots.
The campaign’s timing, ahead of the warmer months when mosquito activity increases, aims to reduce larval populations before they peak. The Ensenada government has conducted similar larviciding programs in past years as part of its routine vector surveillance efforts.
The campaign was first reported by Ensenada.net.