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Questioning if there are mosquitos in Cancun and different fashionable solar locations in Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America?
You’re not alone! Not solely are mosquitos annoying however there’s additionally a rising danger of mosquito-borne viruses as sure mosquitos can transmit illnesses comparable to dengue fever, West Nile, chikungunya, zika and extra.
This information will assist you to put together on your trip in Cancun.
By understanding as a lot as you may about mosquito season, mosquito-borne illnesses and one of the best insect repellents you may cut back the chance of getting bitten by mosquitos in Cancun.
A number of years in the past I had dengue fever. It was one of many worst medical emergencies I’ve ever confronted on my travels to greater than 60 international locations.
Not solely was dengue painful (headache, bone-breaking joint ache, a hemorrhagic fever that led to bleeding from my eyes like a scene from the movie ‘Outbreak’) however the long run results comparable to hair loss weren’t fairly both.
Now I take additional precautions to keep away from getting bitten by mosquitos. And regardless that I nonetheless spend months in Oaxaca, Mexico and Guatemala, each recognized scorching spots for dengue, I haven’t had a mosquito-borne virus since.
I’m additionally hardly ever bitten by mosquitos.
This information accommodates my suggestions in addition to these from consultants such because the CDC and WHO that can assist you to keep away from getting bitten by mosquitos in Cancun, Florida and plenty of different tropical and sub-tropical locations.
By making ready upfront, you can also reduce the chance of catching a mosquito-born virus.
The place Are You at Danger?
Travellers who go to Africa, Asia, Mexico, Central and South America, and islands within the Indian Ocean, Western and South Pacific, and Caribbean might be susceptible to dengue, chikungunya and/or zika.
In Central America, the international locations of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador typically report outbreaks of mosquito-borne viruses.
Whereas dengue fever is uncommon in southern Europe, you may get West Nile illness in Greece and Italy in addition to Canada and the USA!
Mosquitos in Mexico
Though dengue has been reported in 28 of 32 of Mexico’s states, the hotspots for dengue (and different mosquito-borne viruses) have traditionally been the states of Chiapas, Guerrero, Morelos, Oaxaca (together with Puerto Escondido and Mazunte), Tabasco and Yucatan.
Nonetheless, in accordance with a latest examine of extreme dengue in Mexico by the journal Ecological Informatics, the severity of dengue is rising and it’s changing into extra widespread.
Simply final yr there was a significant outbreak of dengue in Puerto Vallarta within the State of Jalisco).
And in spring 2023, Mexico’s Federal Ministry of Well being reported 802 confirmed circumstances of dengue in Quintana Roo, house to Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum.
That’s 400% increased than the quantity within the Yucatan!
Mosquitos in Cancun
In the event you’re travelling to Mexico and questioning if there are mosquitos in Cancun, the reply is sure.
Do you have to be fearful? The reply is there’s no cause to panic. As an alternative, be ready.
Along with the rising pattern upward in dengue mosquitoes, many travellers are venturing away from the seashores because of sargassum seaweed in Cancun.
They’re spending extra time in rural areas the place mosquito eradication measures aren’t as rigorous as they’re at Cancun Riviera Maya’s all-inclusive resorts.
Collaborating in outside adventures comparable to an ATV Jungle Tour with Ziplining, mountaineering within the jungle and swimming within the cenotes of the Yucatan Peninsula means you’re prone to be uncovered to extra mosquitos (generally known as zancudos in Latin America) than at a day by the swimming pool.
Different locations you may anticipate to see mosquitos in Cancun embrace the Zona Arqueológica de San Miguelito (adjoining to the Museo de Cancun), Nichupté Lagoon (between the Lodge Zone and downtown Cancun) and at eco-park points of interest comparable to Xoximilco, Xenses and Xavage by Grupo Xcaret.
How Do You Get Contaminated by Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika?
What’s chikungunya? It’s a mosquito-borne virus transmitted to people by the bites of contaminated mosquitoes, primarily the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquito.
In contrast to dengue (which may typically be deadly) or zika virus (which causes start defects) brought on by the identical form of mosquito, chikungunya (pronounced chik-en-gun-ye) is often not deadly.
Nevertheless it causes extreme fevers, headache and joint ache that may be debilitating and may linger for months.
There isn’t any vaccine or treatment.
One of the simplest ways to keep away from contracting these mosquito-borne viruses is to keep away from getting bitten by mosquitos in any respect.
The CDC has some glorious Recommendations on Avoiding Dengue by Stopping Mosquito Bites however try my dengue virus prevention suggestions beneath.
Who’s Most at Danger?
Are you a mosquito-magnet? Do different individuals by no means appear to get bitten but you come house coated in welts? You’re not alone.
Science has confirmed that 20% of the inhabitants is extra engaging to mosquitos than others. This contains individuals with Kind O blood, beer-drinkers, females and different extra mysterious components.
Based on the American Mosquito Management Group, carbon dioxide is essentially the most universally acknowledged mosquito attractant. Simply respiration is sufficient to appeal to mosquitos.
The CDC advises travellers in high-risk teams to debate journey plans with their well being care supplier.
Excessive-risk teams embrace the next:
- Individuals who have arthritis,
- Folks with critical underlying medical circumstances (comparable to hypertension, coronary heart illness, or diabetes),
- Folks older than 65,
- Pregnant girls who’re late of their pregnancies, due to the chance to infants born on the time their mom is sick,
- Lengthy-term travellers, together with missionaries and humanitarian support employees and folks visiting mates and kin,
- Individuals who might need problem avoiding mosquito bites. That features these planning to spend so much of time outside and people staying in rooms with out window screens or air-con.
Mosquito Season in Cancun, Mexico and the Caribbean
Mosquito season coincides with the wet season which hits its peak from Could to October when there’s essentially the most rainfall.
Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless doable to get bitten by mosquitos outdoors of the wet season. Mosquitos together with the virus-transmitting Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are energetic year-round.
So whereas there’s extra rainfall in Cancun in January (common rainfall of 4.1 inches) in comparison with March (common rainfall of 1.8 inches), there are mosquitos in Cancun in March.
A lot depends upon eradication efforts by resorts, residents and native authorities. These embrace:
- Training campaigns to show the general public to take away stagnant water round their houses. Discarded tires, rain barrels, fountains and even flower pots are a first-rate breeding floor for dengue mosquitos.
- Many resorts and municipalities fog for mosquitos. This helps cut back clusters of mosquitos.
- The dengue mosquito doesn’t lay its eggs in marshes, ditches, mangroves or wetlands. They lay their eggs on the partitions of containers on patios in households, inns and different city environments.
How one can Defend Your self from Mosquito Bites
1. Put on Lengthy-sleeved Clothes
Put on lengthy sleeved shirts and lengthy pants, ideally light-coloured. It could appear unusual to be sporting pants or lengthy sleeves when its 40C however at the least your pores and skin will likely be protected.
In the event you’re headed to a seaside resort and need to look extra fashionable, one of many finest journey garments for ladies is a seaside sarong wraps with insect repellent woven proper into the material.
2. Keep in a Lodge Room on the fifth Ground or Increased
One option to cut back the chance of getting bitten by mosquitos in Cancun is to ebook at a room on an higher flooring or a lodge or resort.
Lodge rooms at floor degree are likely to have extra crawling bugs than these on the second flooring or increased. Dengue mosquitos desire to fly at knee degree which implies you’ll discover extra mosquitos at decrease ranges than at increased.
Many consultants, together with the American Mosquito Management Group, report that mosquitos desire to fly at ranges beneath 25 ft. And that the Aedes aegypti mosquito can fly no increased than 50 ft.
This implies that staying above the fifth or sixth flooring of a lodge ought to place you in secure territory.
3. Select Lodging with Air Conditioning and Screens
Whereas each mid-range to luxurious lodge in Cancun could have air-con, that is probably not the case with AirBnB, long run or funds leases.
Not all home windows will likely be outfitted with screens. And it’s commonplace for screens to be free or lacking.
When planning a trip in a semi tropical or tropical local weather, at all times examine to see if screens and AC are put in earlier than reserving.
4. Remove Breeding Spots for Mosquitos
Mosquito eggs hatch when involved with water.
In the event you’re staying with household or have any management over your environment comparable to a long-term trip rental, get rid of (or disinfect) standing water in receptacles comparable to pails, flower pots, buckets, previous tires and so on.
5. Be Ready for Day-Biting Mosquitos
The Aedes aegypti mosquito is a day-biting, city mosquito. The World Well being Group (WHO) advises that the sort of mosquito often rests indoors in darkish corners, below beds and behind curtains.
This implies you may get bitten whereas lounging in your front room, hanging out at a restaurant at midday and even downward-dogging it in yoga class.
Don’t suppose you’re solely susceptible to getting mosquito bites while you’re within the jungle or distant areas.
6. Pack Duct Tape
I at all times journey with a roll of duct tape and use it to seal giant gaps in doorways or home windows. Admittedly this could be a fairly time-consuming and noisy process with all that ripping sound of tape.
However there’s one thing satisfying about waking up within the morning and seeing all these bugs trapped on the surface of the door.
Simply consider all of the bites you prevented!
Select a duct tape that leaves no gummy residue. Painter’s tape additionally works fairly nicely for short-term safety.
7. Buy a Plug-in Insect Repellent
Whenever you arrive at your vacation spot, head to a grocery store like Walmart or Chedraui and buy a field of Raid Laminitas. In Mexico, one field prices lower than $10 and can final for a number of weeks.
Use laminitas like an air freshener. Simply insert the blue pad contained in the system, plug it into an electrical outlet and depart the room for half-hour. Whenever you return, the mosquitos will likely be gone.
The laminitas additionally do away with tiny gnats which, though not harmful, could cause annoying welts and intense itching. The directions say you may depart laminitas plugged in all night time however I most likely wouldn’t try this in case you have bronchial asthma or different respiratory points.
There are additionally precautions towards utilizing Laminitas in rooms the place babies and/or aged will likely be sleeping.
8. Purchase Insect Repellent with DEET
To keep away from mosquito bites from the virus-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquito, one of the best bug spray for Cancun accommodates N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide DEET. This isn’t the time to make use of mild pure bug sprays.
DEET-based repellents are available in concentrations starting from 5% to 100%. Their effectiveness lasts from 90 minutes to 10 hours. The CDC additionally recommends repellent containing picaridin.
Though you’re not allowed to take aerosol cans on airplanes, buy the small purse or pocket-sized pump bottles, cream or towelettes at your native pharmacy (or on-line) and take them in your carry-on bag.
Apply repellent as quickly as you arrive. You’ll typically encounter mosquitos at airports or enroute to your lodge. Learn concerning the 10 Greatest Insect Repellents.
9. Request a Fan at Your Lodge
As soon as at your lodge, request a transportable fan on your room and direct the air circulate in direction of your self, your mattress or patio.
It’s also possible to buy a battery-powered moveable fan to make use of at outside eating places.
10. Use a Mosquito Internet at Evening
Use a mosquito internet if there may be one. If not, you may at all times buy a traveller’s mattress internet and take it with you.
The moveable mosquito nets include an adjustable string and a hoop to connect to the ceiling.
11. Pack Acetaminophen (Tylenol) not Aspirin or Ibuprofen
In the event you do have the misfortunate of getting dengue virus, acetaminophen is the advisable ache medicine to take. I didn’t know that.
So once I obtained hit with dengue I started dosing myself with aspirin and this triggered added issues. In the event you suspect you have got dengue, see a physician instantly.
12. Put on Insect Repellent Clothes
Deal with your clothes or buy clothes pretreated with Permethrin.It’s as efficient as one hundred pc DEET and never solely repels bugs, it truly kills ticks, mosquitoes, chiggers, mites, and greater than 55 other forms of bugs on contact.
The energetic ingredient Permethrin is an artificial molecule much like pyrethrum which is taken from the Chrysanthemum flower.
A single software lasts six washings or 42 days of solar publicity. Don’t use the answer in your pores and skin.
13. Enhance Your Vitamin B Consumption
Some individuals discover that taking vitamin B dietary supplements helps shield towards mosquito bites. Vitamin B patches present a gradual dose of vitamin B1 or thiamine for 36 hours.
The assumption is that the patch alters blood chemistry and human scent making the wearer much less engaging to mosquitoes.
Analysis printed by the Journal of Insect Science evaluating the effectiveness of insect repellents reported that the Mosquito Pores and skin Patch containing vitamin B1 did not cut back attraction charges.
14. Strive Citronella Candles, Avon Pores and skin So Mushy and Clip-on Gadgets
It’s also possible to take a multi-pronged method for stopping mosquito bites by utilizing manufacturers providing a number of complementary mosquito deterrent merchandise comparable to Avon Pores and skin So Mushy lotion.
Some individuals depend on insect repellent bracelets of clip-on units to put on as additional safety.
It’s price studying the Journal of Insect Science’s detailed evaluation (famous above) of those strategies.
Based on Well being Canada, merchandise comparable to electrocuting units and ultrasonic units are NOT advisable since they is probably not very efficient or long-lasting.
How one can Get Aid from Itching?
In the event you do occur to get bitten by a mosquito in your Cancun trip and the itch simply gained’t go away, it’s price trying into the Zap Ease product.
It’s advisable by a number of medical authorities as option to cut back itching from mosquito bites because it sends a small electrical impulse which inhibits histamine launch and itching.
Take a look at this evaluate of Zap Ease in addition to a number of merchandise for stopping mosquito bites.
Word: The above data is not any substitute for medical recommendation! Search medical consideration instantly when you really feel sick when travelling or upon return from worldwide journey.
Your finest wager is to search for an infectious illness specialist.
It’s additionally vital to have journey insurance coverage in case you do get sick.
FAQs
Dengue is commonest within the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Guerrero, Morelos and Yucatan, Mexico. However dengue fever may also be present in Quintana Roo, house to Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum.
Sure, you want mosquito repellent in Cancun. It’s a tropical local weather so there are mosquitos. Put on long-sleeved shirts and pants, and a hat when you’re planning to spend time outside or depart the resort.
In the event you’re visiting Cancun within the wet season you’ll encounter extra mosquitos than through the dry season. It’s extra humid and there’s extra water, best circumstances for breeding mosquitos.
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Dividing her time between Canada, Guatemala and Mexico (or the closest tropical seaside), Michele Peterson is the founding father of A Style for Journey. Her award-winning journey and meals writing has appeared in Lonely Planet’s cookbook Mexico: From the Supply, Nationwide Geographic Traveler, Fodor’s and 100+ different publications.
Learn extra about Michele Peterson.