The government of Santiago de Cuba acknowledges an outbreak of an unidentified viral disease in two municipalities

At least eight people have been hospitalized, but no cases have been reported as serious, according to a report from Cuban authorities. Studies are underway to determine the cause of this illness.

Los problemas con el abasto de agua persisten en Santiago de Cuba © Facebook/Yosmany Mayeta Labrada
The water supply issues persist in Santiago de Cuba.Photo © Facebook/Yosmany Mayeta Labrada

The Provincial Health Department in Santiago de Cuba published an informative note this Monday in which it acknowledged an increase in reports of patients with nonspecific febrile syndromes.

According to the statement published on Facebook, the cases were reported between May 12 and May 18 in the municipality of Songo-La Maya, as well as in the health areas of Carlos J. Finlay and Ernesto Guevara de la Serna, both located in the main municipality.

Facebook Capture/Provincial Health Directorate of Santiago de Cuba

The clinical picture of the patients is characterized by headaches, fever, general malaise, loss of appetite, and muscle pain, the report explained.

He pointed out that so far eight patients have been admitted, all of whom are showing favorable progress "with resolution of the clinical picture by the fourth or fifth day of the illness," and no cases have been reported as severe.

Additionally, it was noted that samples were sent to the Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine in Havana for research and to determine the cause of this event.

"It corresponds to a disease of viral etiology due to its evolution and epidemiological pattern," he stated.

Although the Provincial Health Directorate in Santiago de Cuba only reported eight hospitalized patients, local journalist Yosmany Mayeta recently raised concerns about a viral outbreak, indicating that at least 20 people were hospitalized.

The independent journalist reported that approximately 300 people had confirmed that the population was being affected and also noted that there were cases in the town of Santa María, in the capital municipality.

Currently, the water supply crisis in Santiago de Cuba is driving people to extreme solutions, such as collecting water directly from a street leak, which compromises its quality and safety, putting their lives at risk.

The residents of the Los Pinos neighborhood in the main municipality have gone over two weeks without receiving water through the aqueduct system. This issue has forced them to fill buckets and tanks directly from a large leak on the street.

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