Cases of the mosquito-borne illness dengue fever spiked in Sonora last year. Officials are taking precautions to keep the virus from spreading this monsoon season.

Dengue can cause fever, rashes, headaches and muscle soreness, among other symptoms. And confirmed cases of the virus in Sonora jumped from just 100 in 2021 to more than 2000 in 2022.

In response, Sonoran officials created a dengue-fighting crew to implement prevention measures across the state. And with the arrival of monsoon season, they are increasing outreach to the communities most at risk — including parts of southern Sonora and certain neighborhoods in the capital Hermosillo.

In addition to monitoring and fumigation projects, they are educating communities on how to protect themselves — including removing trash and standing water from their patios, using bug repellent and wearing long sleeves and pants to avoid mosquito bites.