Santos, Brazil, has reported significant progress in combating dengue fever as part of recent community efforts aimed at reducing the mosquito population. Over the course of four community clean-up initiatives, local authorities successfully eliminated 345 breeding sites for the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is responsible for dengue, zika, and chikungunya transmission. The initiatives focused on neighborhoods such as Ponta da Praia and Marapé, where teams actively looked for stagnant water, which serves as breeding grounds for these mosquitoes.

In 2026, approximately 6,000 residences were inspected by health agents, averaging about 1,645 homes per event. However, around 489 properties were found to be closed, which hindered efforts to inspect for potential breeding sites. As of the latest report on Friday the 13th, the city has recorded 51 cases of dengue and six cases of chikungunya this year. The proactive measures taken by the city underscore the importance of community efforts in managing public health crises related to mosquito-borne diseases.

Additionally, the city is promoting vaccination campaigns for children aged 10 to 14 years old against dengue fever, which are available in municipal polyclinics from Monday to Friday. The recent announcement of a vaccine from the Butantan Institute is also aimed at bolstering local defenses against dengue, further highlighting the coordinated efforts of the local government to mitigate the threat of this mosquito-borne illness and improve the overall health of the community.