The Ministry of Public Health (MSP) of Ecuador has introduced the National Plan against Dengue and the Gran Minga Comunitaria 2026, aimed at improving vector control measures to prevent and manage dengue cases across the country.
During a press conference in Quito, Vice President María José Pinto officially announced the initiative as a strategic response to address the risk of dengue, especially in areas with higher vulnerability. “As a government we are acting in time and with prevention in the field, eliminating breeding sites, stagnant water and taking care of our spaces. We are working closely with communities and health personnel,” said Vice President María José Pinto. She also called on the community to work together on these actions. “A country that takes care of itself and protects itself in time is free from dengue,” she added.
The MSP’s analysis of epidemiological data from 2025 identified specific parishes—representing only 2% of Ecuador’s territory but accounting for 40% of last year’s cases—for targeted intervention. The plan will cover 1,532 critical localities, mainly in Esmeraldas, Guayas, Santa Elena, Napo, El Oro, Pastaza, and Manabí provinces.
Andrés Carrazco, Acting Vice Minister of Health Governance, provided details about the plan. He explained that its main focus is disease prevention and community education. The mission is to interrupt virus transmission and reduce both severe case incidence and mortality through a multidisciplinary approach involving various sectors. Carrazco outlined several action points:
– Precisely identifying neighborhoods and parishes with high historical incidence.
– Implementing sustained actions to lower risk before peak transmission periods.
– Ensuring infrastructure and supplies for timely response.
– Executing preventive measures to protect citizens from outbreaks.
– Promoting health education with support from community leaders.
A key component is the Gran Minga Comunitaria, which seeks active participation from neighborhood leaders, local health committees, and citizens. This phase emphasizes vector control and mosquito breeding site elimination in collaboration with decentralized autonomous governments (GADs) and other state institutions.
The initial phase includes six coordinated strategies: monitoring vector presence; timely case reporting; physical and chemical removal of breeding sites; health promotion through community awareness; strengthening laboratory networks for IgM dengue testing; and patient treatment.
With this launch, the government reiterates its commitment to public health by encouraging residents to participate in cleaning activities to help prevent dengue spread throughout 2026.
