Baja California Sur has recorded 734 dengue cases and four deaths during the current 2025-2026 season, state health secretary Ana Luisa Castro Guluarte reported. All four deaths occurred in La Paz, which along with Los Cabos carries the highest caseload among the state’s five municipalities.
So far in 2026, 53 new cases have been confirmed statewide, according to Zeta Tijuana. The seasonal outbreak, which began in summer 2025, typically runs through the warmer, wetter months when the Aedes aegypti mosquito thrives in standing water. BCS has dealt with annual dengue cycles since the virus first appeared in the state in 1985, but the peninsula’s arid climate historically kept case counts lower than mainland Mexico.
La Paz and Los Cabos are the two municipalities where expats, retirees, and tourists are most concentrated. Dengue is spread exclusively by mosquito bites, not person to person, and symptoms range from mild fever and body aches to severe hemorrhagic complications. There is no specific antiviral treatment. Mexico’s public hospitals treat dengue patients at no cost, and private clinics in La Paz and Cabo San Lucas can run blood panels to confirm infection.
Residents and visitors can reduce risk with standard precautions: use DEET-based repellent, eliminate standing water around homes and patios, and wear long sleeves during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. Window screens and air conditioning also help. Anyone experiencing sudden high fever, severe headache behind the eyes, or joint pain should seek medical attention promptly, as early hydration and monitoring are key to avoiding complications.