Cuba is facing a new health alert due to the increase in cases of dengue and Oropouche fever in several provinces of the country.
The confirmation of the Oropouche virus in nine provinces and 23 municipalities, detected at the national reference laboratory of the Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine (IPK), has triggered the healthcare systems on the island.
The municipalities of Matanzas, Mayabeque, Villa Clara, Sancti Spíritus, Ciego de Ávila, Holguín, Guantánamo, Santiago de Cuba, and Cienfuegos have confirmed the presence of the Oropouche virus based on samples studied at the national reference laboratory of the Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine (IPK).
Doctor Francisco Durán, the national director of Epidemiology at the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP), reported that these cases were identified through follow-up actions and surveillance of non-specific febrile syndromes. All patients have evolved favorably, improving between the third and fourth day from the onset of the disease, stated the specialist.
Likewise, he explained that Oropouche fever presents a mild clinical picture, with an incubation period of 5 to 7 days, and is characterized by fever, headaches, muscle aches, and joint pain. In some cases, vomiting and diarrhea are also reported.
Although some patients may experience a second episode of symptoms similar to the initial ones around the sixth day, no sequelae or severe cases or deaths have been reported. There is no specific treatment for this disease, so it is recommended to see a doctor to receive general measures that alleviate the symptoms.
Regarding dengue, the expert pointed out an increase in the incidence rate of suspected cases in recent weeks, especially in the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud, and in the provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Ciego de Ávila, Camagüey, Holguín, and Cienfuegos.
Unlike the Oropouche virus, dengue can evolve into severe forms and cause death, which is why there is an insistence on the need to seek timely medical attention.
Both viruses are transmitted by mosquitoes: dengue by Aedes aegypti, and Oropouche fever by mosquitoes of the Culex genus and diptera of the Culicidae genus (jejen culicoide). This situation is complicated due to inadequate environmental conditions, high temperatures, and increased rainfall in the national territory.
In addition, the country maintains surveillance of Acute Respiratory Infections, showing an 8.4% decrease in the number of medical visits for this cause. Currently, the endemic corridor is in the safe zone, no cases of COVID-19 are reported, and the circulation of Influenza A and non-pandemic Coronavirus viruses has been demonstrated.
To address this complex epidemiological situation, the main executives of the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) are touring all provinces and the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud, evaluating the preparedness and organization of the territories.
Durán emphasized the importance of people's participation and cooperation. He recommended seeking immediate medical attention if experiencing symptoms such as fever, headache, joint pain, general discomfort, diarrhea, and vomiting.
He also stressed the importance of complying with home or hospital admission measures as appropriate, supporting sanitation initiatives in homes and workplaces, and collaborating with campaign workers in each locality for the implementation of focal treatment and/or adulticide actions.
The healthcare system on the Island is not prepared for the Oropouche virus.
Miguel Ángel Ruano, president of the Free Cuban Medical Guild and a doctor residing in Colombia, had access to a letter that MINSAP sent to the directors and heads of postgraduate departments on the island, warning that the current epidemiological situation could become "more complex".
In it, the authorities refer to the increase in episodes of "non-specific" fever that have occurred in Santiago de Cuba and that the official press had to acknowledge.
According to Ruano, "the health system is not prepared to face" this Oropouche epidemic in the largest of the Antilles, and the lack of resources could lead to many of these infections becoming complicated with meningitis or encephalitis, which are much more serious.
In fact, in the letter to the postgraduate officials, Professor José Luis Aparicio Suárez, General Director of Medical Teaching, acknowledged that "currently there are no vaccines or specific antiviral drugs available to treat OROV infection".
Therefore, the recommended approach to treatment is palliative, "focused on relieving pain, rehydrating the patient, and managing any vomiting that may occur."
Likewise, he warned that in those situations where "the disease manifests itself in a neuroinvasive form, it will be necessary to admit the patient to specialized units that allow constant monitoring."
In an interview granted to CiberCuba, Ruano explained that in the MINSAP letter, it mentions the need to prepare departmental officials, given the alert issued by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) regarding outbreaks of the Oropouche virus (OROV).
According to the document, obtained by CiberCuba and sent to the Free Cuban Medical Guild by its affiliates on the island, the incubation period is 5 to 7 days, during which patients experience high fever, headache with photophobia, myalgia, arthralgia, and in some cases, rashes.
"In certain patients, symptoms can be more severe and include vomiting and bleeding," the letter stressed, clarifying that the infection can last 2 to 3 weeks.
Authorities also admitted that "in exceptional situations," the OROV can cause meningitis and encephalitis, and in these cases, patients show symptoms such as dizziness, lethargy, nystagmus, and neck stiffness. As usual, the virus can be detected in the cerebrospinal fluid.
Finally, the letter addressed the vector control measures that focus "on reducing mosquito populations through the identification and elimination of vector breeding and resting sites."
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