Respiratory viruses are hitting Guantánamo hard amid extreme heat

The province of Guantánamo has recorded over 9,000 medical consultations for acute respiratory infections between January and August, an increase compared to the previous year that, according to specialists, is attributed both to the seasonality of these illnesses and to the rise in temperatures, conditions that facilitate the spread of viruses and bacteria.

The municipalities of Niceto Pérez, Caimanera, Yateras, San Antonio del Sur, Manuel Tames, and the provincial capital top the list of areas with the highest reports, and the most vulnerable are children aged one to four years and adults over 65, reported the official newspaper Venceremos.

Among the detected pathogens, the respiratory syncytial virus—responsible for bronchiolitis in infants—stands out, along with influenza AH1N1 and rhinovirus, while SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, is present to a lesser extent, "although its current clinical manifestations are milder," he noted.

The incubation period "is two to three days, and they are usually transmissible for three to seven. After the onset of symptoms, the progression can extend from 10 to 15 days, which we refer to as the common cold or influenza," explained Dr. Aimé Blanco Chivas, head of Communicable Diseases at the Provincial Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology.

According to the media outlet, authorities have strengthened epidemiological surveillance at all levels of care, from family doctor clinics to hospitals and emergency services, in addition to intensifying health education campaigns to curb the spread of infection.

Blanco urged the public to see a doctor at the first signs of symptoms and to maintain preventive measures such as frequent handwashing, proper ventilation of spaces, avoiding overcrowding, and consuming treated water.

It was also reiterated the necessity to complete the COVID-19 vaccination, with doses available for the entire population, as part of the strategies to prevent severe complications.

In the midst of a summer marked by extreme heat and high viral circulation, the healthcare system in the region is facing increasing pressure, while authorities urge not to underestimate symptoms that could lead to severe conditions, especially among at-risk groups.

Hospitals in various Cuban provinces have reactivated their patient care rooms for symptoms compatible with covid-19, following the admission of dozens of people with respiratory conditions.

Although health authorities have not issued official figures, medical personnel have confirmed an increase in admissions for symptoms consistent with the XFG variant, a strain descended from Omicron, which is highly contagious even among asymptomatic individuals, according to reports from the official radio station Radio Mambí.

The situation has led to an urgent call for the use of masks in closed spaces, public transportation, workplaces, and areas with a high concentration of people.

The Ministry of Public Health (Minsap) warned of a sustained increase in acute respiratory illnesses, dengue cases, and hepatitis A in several provinces, as part of an ever more complex national epidemiological landscape.

During a television appearance on Cuban TV on August 6, Doctor Francisco Durán García, the national director of Epidemiology at Minsap, emphasized that dengue is the most complex arboviral disease circulating in the country and urged people to see a doctor at the first signs of a fever.

It was reported that there are two individuals with dengue classified as severe in the country, although the province where the patients reside was not disclosed, nor was any additional information about the cases provided.

Durán referred to the chikungunya that remains active in two popular neighborhoods in the municipality of Perico, in Matanzas.

At the same time, he downplayed the rising alarm on social media about a possible increase in the XFG variant of covid-19, while denying that there are “overwhelmed hospitals” due to coronavirus in Cuba. In this regard, he reiterated that there is no significant increase in cases, although he also did not provide any figures.

In July, Cuba's Minister of Public Health, José Ángel Portal Miranda, acknowledged before members of the National Assembly that the healthcare system is undergoing an unprecedented structural crisis, characterized by a coverage of barely 30% of the essential medicine list and a widespread deterioration of medical services.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Increase in Respiratory Infections in Guantánamo