[Presence of Aedes aegypti in a high altitude area in Bolivia]

Introduction: Aedes aegypti is a vector of arboviral pathogens that cause hundreds of millions of cases of dengue fever, yellow fever, Zika, and Chikungunya annually, and is widespread globally. Although these mosquitoes commonly inhabit tropical and subtropical areas at low altitudes, recent studies found them up to 2,500 meters above sea levels (masl). Objective: To identify the presence of the Ae. aegypti mosquito in urban areas with altitudes around 2,900 masl in Sucre, Bolivia. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted, capturing mosquito larvae between March 30 and April 20, 2022, during the peak period of rainfall. Ovitraps were placed at 12 points in the urban area (Districts 1, 2, and 4) in Sucre, Bolivia, as part of the regular activities of the public health system's surveillance system. Morphological and taxonomic analysis was performed at a National Laboratory to confirm genus and species. Results: The presence of mosquito larvae was confirmed at 3 of the 12 sampling points at more than 2,900 m.a.s.l. in an urban area with high migratory flow. The entomological index values were: House index, 13.64; Breteau index, 27.27; Index of dry containers, 43.55; and Index of containers with water, 56.45. Conclusion: The presence of immature forms of mosquitoes increases the risk for autochthonous cases of Dengue Disease in the short term. Prevention and control strategies must be intensified, particularly in endemic areas, along with enhanced surveillance and early warning systems, to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue.