The Ministry of Public Health (MSP) in Ecuador is expanding its efforts to prevent and control the spread of dengue as part of the National Plan against Dengue and the 2026 Community Minga campaign.
Authorities have focused on timely intervention in 38 parishes across 11 provinces, which account for only 2% of the country’s territory but concentrate 40% of dengue cases. MSP response teams are carrying out continuous monitoring for mosquito presence and recording new cases. Their activities include eliminating breeding sites for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, targeted fumigation in high-incidence areas, training health professionals and community members, and encouraging citizen participation in prevention efforts.
In northwest Guayaquil and along the coastal highway corridor, Zonal Coordination 8 is conducting ongoing vector control measures. These actions involve environmental fumigation, treating water tanks with larvicides, and promoting prevention strategies not only for dengue but also chikungunya and zika. Medical brigades are supporting these operations by reaching remote areas to strengthen public health protection.
Cristhian Toala, a resident from Flor de Bastión, shared his experience: “Thanks to the visits made by the Vector Control group in my sector of Flor de Bastión, I have learned how to properly keep water tanks closed and, most importantly, how to eliminate mosquito breeding sites. In this way, I am sure that I will protect my family from dengue, chikungunya and zika.”
In Manabí and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas provinces under Zonal Coordination 4, authorities established a Network of Dengue Professionals at district and zonal levels. This network includes general practitioners and specialists from both public and private health systems who focus on patient management as well as outbreak control. Efforts here have included managing patients with or without warning signs of dengue infection; destroying breeding sites; focalized controls; indoor fumigations; environmental spraying; visiting over 60,000 homes; treating more than 84,000 water deposits; destroying over 115,000 potential breeding containers; fumigating nearly 700 houses across almost a thousand city blocks; and organizing multiple community clean-up campaigns.
Cristóbal Castillo from Portoviejo commented: “They are working in the field which is important so that MSP can reinforce controls against diseases typical for this season. During health staff visits we also receive education about eliminating mosquito breeding sites, learning preventive measures and recognizing symptoms so we know when to go to health centers to avoid complications.”
In Machala city—through collaboration between MSP and the Ministry of Education—cleanup drives were held at twelve priority schools aiming to reduce Aedes aegypti populations within educational communities.
Meanwhile in Zamora Chinchipe province’s Yantzaza, Yacuambi, Centinela del Cóndor and Chinchipe cantons authorities intensified vector control with communal campaigns targeting stagnant water sources where mosquitoes breed.
The Ministry urges citizens nationwide to take part in preventing dengue by removing standing water around their homes and keeping living spaces clean.
