Second Binational Forum on Rickettsia Held in Ciudad Juárez to Strengthen Cross-Border Health Strategies
Ciudad Juárez, February 20, 2026 – The Second Binational Forum for the Prevention of Rickettsia took place yesterday, Thursday, February 19, 2026, in Ciudad Juárez, bringing together a wide array of authorities and health experts from El Paso, Texas, New Mexico, and Ciudad Juárez. The event, held at the Cepia Hall, served as a crucial platform for dialogue and international coordination, aiming to bolster joint public health efforts in this vital border region.
Councilwoman Fernanda Ávalos Medina, the organizer of the event, expressed her satisfaction with the significant collaboration achieved. “A great collaboration that we managed to make, we are joined by authorities from the city of El Paso, El Paso County, the government of the State of New Mexico, the Federal and State Health Secretariats, UACJ, the State Secretariat of Education, very happy for the great collaboration,” Ávalos stated.
She emphasized the commitment of U.S. authorities to join this binational strategy to protect the health of communities on both sides of the border. “We must work with an integral strategy that involves all of us and be coordinated to achieve prevention, timely detection, and adequate care,” she added.
Key Discussions and Commitments
Among the primary topics addressed at the forum was the critical importance of timely detection of rickettsial diseases. Dr. Angélica Escárcega presented on this subject, focusing on the ‘One Health’ approach and the vital role of the veterinary profession in prevention.
“The most valuable tool we have is prevention. What we have to do is establish commitments, not just a dialogue and informative forum, but establish commitments to work together and achieve the prevention of this disease and reduce cases,” Councilwoman Ávalos highlighted, stressing the need for actionable outcomes.
Héctor Rafael Ortiz Orpinel, Secretary of the City Council, reiterated the Municipal Administration’s commitment to promoting public policies coordinated with other entities to generate tangible results in preventing this disease.
U.S. authorities, including Crystal Reyes, Director of the El Paso Animal Welfare Department, and Gerardo Fierro, from the New Mexico Border Authority, underscored that health in the border region is a shared responsibility. They emphasized that institutional coordination significantly amplifies the impact of preventive actions.
Rickettsia Cases in Chihuahua and Ciudad Juárez
Dr. Rogelio Covarrubias Gil, Director of Health District II of Ciudad Juárez, provided an update on the rickettsia situation. He reported that during 2025, 108 cases of rickettsia were confirmed in the state of Chihuahua. “The suspected cases in Chihuahua are 187 and in Juárez are 227; the confirmed cases in Chihuahua are 54, compared to 42 for us; regarding deaths, Chihuahua has 32 and we have 17, for the year 2025,” Dr. Covarrubias informed.
Local Actions and Future Outlook
During the forum, municipal departments presented concrete actions focused on prevention, tick control, community education, and urban environmental improvement. These presentations reaffirmed that sustained coordination among governments, academia, and society is fundamental to effectively address this public health challenge.
The collaborative efforts showcased at the forum aim to create a more resilient and prepared binational community in the face of rickettsial diseases, ensuring the health and well-being of residents on both sides of the border.
Source: https://oem.com.mx/elheraldodejuarez/local/segundo-foro-binacional-contra-la-rickettsia-28549649
