Alarm in Matanzas: Fever cases surge in Unión de Reyes

The Cuban regime, in its series of failures in public health, now adds a new episode: the increase of febrile syndromes in the municipality of Unión de Reyes in Matanzas, which necessitated emergency measures.

According to a report on Thursday by the state-run newspaper Girón on its Facebook page, the municipal director of Public Health, Raydel Alejandro Sotés Carrera, acknowledged that the increase in febrile patients is concentrated in the towns of Alacranes and Unión de Reyes.

The most affected areas include blocks 18, 19, 20, 21, and 28A in Alacranes, as well as blocks 46, 39, 26A, and 11 in Unión de Reyes, data that raises concerns about the extent of the impact.

In light of the situation, it was decided to move a command post to the transmission areas to coordinate vector control and epidemiological surveillance actions more swiftly, a measure that should have been implemented long ago.

Sotés admitted that, due to the staff shortage, workers from other polyclinics were brought in and former exterminators were hired, highlighting that more than a strategy, the old method of "putting out fires" is being applied.

In the first week, 496 homes were sprayed, 237 focal treatments were conducted, four mosquito breeding sites were detected, 28 PCR tests were processed, and 592 people were screened, of which 21 showed febrile syndromes without seeking healthcare institutions.

Authorities are also considering temporarily relocating a clinical laboratory to the most affected areas to conduct diagnostic tests, including IGM tests on the sixth day of symptoms, which help identify the dengue serotype.

With these actions, the regime is acknowledging that there is a significant problem in these areas and is identifying the disease that is decimating the population: dengue.

The official call includes strengthening family self-protection, covering water storage containers, and eliminating open containers where liquids can accumulate, which are the main breeding grounds for the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

The actions will be carried out simultaneously in Juan Gualberto Gómez, Alacranes, and Unión de Reyes, with the aim of interrupting transmission and "protecting the health of the population," according to health authorities.

Recently, a chikungunya outbreak in a village in Matanzas has been confirmed, worsening the epidemiological situation in the province and heightening concerns over the simultaneous circulation of various diseases transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

The situation is particularly critical in localities where residents have reported that up to 70% of neighbors show symptoms compatible with arbovirus infections, with no systematic access to diagnostic tests or effective treatments. The lack of control and timely response has led to rampant transmission in several areas.

Meanwhile, health authorities have acknowledged the presence of active dengue transmission in the country, with increasing reports from various provinces, which contrasts with the previous narrative of apparent normalcy.

The phenomenon is not limited to Matanzas. In Ciego de Ávila, there has also been a notable increase in febrile cases, which highlights a pattern of geographic expansion of the disease. This situation has necessitated the hospitalization of several patients, including severe cases.

Among the most alarming reports is the admission to intensive care units of at least four people affected by dengue, highlighting the seriousness of the clinical condition in some patients and the fragility of the healthcare system to manage such outbreaks under appropriate conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions about the dengue outbreak in Unión de Reyes, Matanzas