The Oropouche virus continues to spread across Cuba and is currently present in all provinces, 99 municipalities, and 172 health areas.
In light of the increase in arboviral diseases, Dr. Francisco Durán García, national director of Hygiene and Epidemiology, provided an update on the epidemiological situation in the country during the Midday News on Wednesday.
Durán reminded that the symptoms (fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, vomiting, and diarrhea) are very similar to those of dengue, and for that reason, it is very important for the person to see a doctor to diagnose what illness they have.
The specialist emphasized that the Oropouche has a quite satisfactory evolution; however, in countries like Brazil, complications of meningitis and encephalitis that worsen the clinical picture of the patient have been described.
"We in Cuba do not have severe, critical cases, much less deceased individuals from this disease," he emphasized.
Durán admitted that it is true that sometimes, a few days after the patient recovers, they start to feel unwell again.
"That's why I insist that what is important in medical care is because dengue is circulating in 12 provinces in Cuba and dengue can indeed become complicated. The first case was Oropouche, but maybe what was acquired the second time was dengue," he detailed.
The expert noted that cases of vertical transmission of the disease (from mother to child) have already been reported, something that has not occurred in Cuba until now.
Finally, Durán specified that the disease is transmitted by a midge called Culicoides and the Culex mosquito. The latter is found throughout the country and breeds not only in clean water but also in contaminated water and sewers, "in any muddy place - to put it in good Cuban terms - where there is an accumulation of water, it can breed, it can breed in the pit."
Last week, in light of the considerable increase in cases, Durán acknowledged that the epidemiological situation in the country is "complex" due to the co-circulation of multiple viruses, including influenza, dengue, and Oropouche.
The specialist added that continuous surveillance of these viruses is being conducted, and preventive and control measures have been intensified to mitigate the spread and effectively treat those affected.
However, he recently acknowledged that the country did not have resources to combat the mosquito through fumigation campaigns, which further complicates the epidemiological situation in Cuba.
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