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Health system experts have warned that the Chikungunya virus poses a serious risk to the lives of newborns and pregnant women, given the rising number of infections in Cuba.
The information was published this Wednesday by the state newspaper Granma, following a meeting between the leader Miguel Díaz-Canel, scientists, and health authorities to assess the progression of the disease.
During the meeting, clinical studies and recent evidence were presented confirming the vertical transmission of the virus, meaning from mother to child during childbirth, which can lead to severe conditions in newborns.
Dr. Tania Roing Álvarez, head of the National Neonatology Group, explained that the disease can cause fever, but it can also lead to neurological, respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal complications that endanger the lives of newborns.
The alarm bells sound when the regime admits to experiencing the peak of the chikungunya epidemic, following months of inaction that have led to a situation that has spread throughout the entire country, starting in Matanzas.
For her part, pediatric infectious disease specialist Ileana Álvarez Lam stated that the Ministry of Health has designed a protocol divided into three stages for pediatric care: identification of symptoms, early detection of warning signs, and a clinical algorithm for pediatric management.
Authorities urged families to monitor for symptoms such as irritability, drowsiness, loss of appetite, or abdominal distension, which may indicate serious complications.
The national director of Primary Care, Dr. Yagen Pomares, assured that preventive measures are being strengthened in maternity homes and communities with pregnant women and nursing mothers, as well as daily monitoring of newborns.
Epidemiologist Raúl Guinovart from the University of Havana warned that mathematical models confirm a peak in cases and a sustained increase in arbovirus infections, which necessitates reinforcing vector control measures, despite citizen reports regarding the regime's inefficient actions.
Díaz-Canel himself insisted on "prioritizing prevention and control with intelligence and effectiveness," although the resurgence of the virus once again exposes the fragility of the Cuban healthcare system in the face of recurrent epidemic outbreaks.
The chikungunya outbreak in Cuba has reached a concerning magnitude, with an increasing impact among children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
According to authorities from the Ministry of Public Health, it has been confirmed that the virus affects children and the elderly more severely, leading to the declaration that the country is experiencing one of the worst periods of viral transmission in years.
Thus expressed Dr. Francisco Durán during a recent appearance regarding the epidemiological resurgence.
The situation has led to a significant increase in severe cases among minors. Pediatric hospitals are currently reporting at least 63 children in critical condition due to complications associated with the virus, according to official data released by the Ministry.
The clinical picture in these patients includes persistent fever, neurological impairments, and severe dehydration, which has necessitated the enhancement of care capacity in pediatric intensive care units.
The overall figures are also alarming: over 100 people remain in intensive care due to chikungunya and dengue, which highlights the collapse of a healthcare system that lacks sufficient resources and trained staff in all provinces.
The peak of the epidemic coincides with serious limitations in vector control and a shortage of essential medications and supplies.
Meanwhile, reports have started circulating from independent media regarding child fatalities linked to the virus. A journalist raised the alarm about the death of at least four children from chikungunya in a single week in Havana, stating that authorities are concealing the true extent of the problem.
These deaths would be associated with complications arising from the vertical transmission of the virus and late medical attention.
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