VZCZCXRO8923
PP RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHM RUEHHO RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHPB
RUEHPOD RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM
DE RUEHMC #0945 3210028
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 170028Z NOV 07
FM AMCONSUL MONTERREY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2555
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO PRIORITY 3404
INFO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA PRIORITY
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEHMC/AMCONSUL MONTERREY 7872

UNCLAS MONTERREY 000945 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DOS FOR WHA/MEX 
HHS FOR DAN REYNA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KHIV TBIO SENV SMIG SOCI MX
SUBJECT: TAMAULIPAS: BEST PRACTICES FOR FIGHTING DENGUE FEVER IN 
MEXICO 
 
REF: MEXICO 5704 
 
¶1.  On November 8, Consulate Matamoros and Consulate Monterrey 
Econoffs met with Tamaulipas Secretary of Health, Dr. Rodolfo 
Torre Cantu, to discuss the state's success in battling dengue 
fever.  Despite record rainfalls throughout northeastern Mexico, 
Tamaulipas represents a significantly lower percentage of the 
number of new cases in the region, compared with Veracruz, Nuevo 
Leon, and Coahuila (reftel).  According to Dr. Torre, the 
Tamaulipas state government learned from its mistake during the 
2005 epidemic when, due in large part to the state's inaction, 
dengue infected over 6,000 people in the state. 
 
¶2.  In response to the 2005 epidemic, Tamaulipas instituted a 
dengue prevention program that has been hailed as a "best 
practice" by the Mexican Ministry of Health.  The campaign, 
according to Dr. Torre, is the reason why the number of new 
dengue cases in Tamaulipas has been relatively low compared with 
states like Nuevo Leon and Veracruz.  The program is aimed at 
school-aged children and uses a Tamaulipeco cartoon character to 
get children to understand the causes of dengue so that they 
can, in turn, educate their parents.  The children are 
"deputized" as official Tamaulipas health inspectors and are 
charged with identifying and eradicating mosquito breeding 
grounds in and around their homes.  A catchy song helps them to 
remember to check the places where mosquitoes can flourish. 
Regular TV and radio spots also use the cartoon character and 
song to provide children and parents with dengue prevention 
tips.  "The program has been so successful," said Dr. Torre, 
"that the Mexican Health Ministry asked us to put our program 
information and materials onto a CD-Rom that has now been 
distributed to every Mexican state Secretary of Health." 
 
¶3.  Despite the state's success, Dr. Torre worries that inaction 
on the part of neighboring states Nuevo Leon and Veracruz could 
affect Tamaulipas.  He also noted that the virus is evolving and 
strengthening, causing additional concern despite local 
successes.  When asked about regional cooperation, Dr. Torre 
reported that he works well with the Veracruz Secretary of 
Health and noted that fifteen health officials from Veracruz 
recently visited Ciudad Victoria to learn more about Tamaulipas' 
dengue-prevention programs.  He also noted that increased 
bi-lateral cooperation with Texas health officials has been 
positive.  Nuevo Leon, on the other hand, has been unresponsive 
and difficult to work with, according to Dr. Torre.  Note.  The 
rise in the incidence of dengue in Nuevo Leon represents the 
fastest rising rate of transmission in the country.  End Note. 
 
¶4.  The state is also working to prevent the spread of 
dengue-carrying mosquitoes with fumigation and garbage clean-up 
programs, but Dr. Torre noted that the fumigation only works if 
the poison comes into direct contact with mosquito larvae or 
airborne mosquitoes.  "Relying on this alone doesn't work, which 
is why the education program is so important."  Dr. Torre also 
said that the other half of his job is working with Tamaulipas 
hospitals and health clinics to get them "dengue secure 
certified", i.e. training doctors and nurses to identify dengue 
fever symptoms and posting public information about what to do 
if one suspects he/she has been infected.   Dr. Torre said that 
in this respect, Tamaulipas is also making progress far beyond 
its neighboring Mexican states. 
 
¶5.  COMMENT.  While Mexican states' responses to dengue have 
been varied (reftel), the Tamaulipas government has made a 
concerted effort to avoid the same inaction that led to 
thousands of dengue cases in the state in 2005.  If other 
Mexican states can use Tamaulipas' experience as an example, 
perhaps a further rise in dengue cases can be mitigated in the 
coming year.  However, as Dr. Torre stated, "People don't have a 
memory for things like [dengue].....they forget and they don't 
change their habits and the same thing happens again and again." 
 States' success in combating dengue fever will also greatly 
depend on the continuity of state programs and funding, and on 
the continued commitment of health officials to remain vigilant. 
 END COMMENT. 
 
¶6.  The cable has been cleared with the U.S. Consulate in 
Matamoros. 
 
WILLIAMSON