They update the complex epidemiological situation in Cárdenas

The municipality of Cárdenas, Matanzas, is facing a complex epidemiological situation characterized by an increase in cases of dengue and chikungunya, both diseases transmitted by the mosquito Aedes aegypti.

In an interview granted to Periódico Girón, Dr. Bella Canosa Besu, the municipal director of Hygiene and Epidemiology, explained that this increase coincides with the time of year when arboviral diseases are historically reported in the area, although the coexistence of both diseases complicates the situation.

According to the specialist, dengue remains the most common pattern, although chikungunya has gained ground in recent weeks. Its symptoms are characterized by sudden fever, intense joint pain, swelling, inflamed lymph nodes, and skin rashes, which can lead to incapacitation and complications such as dehydration. In the case of dengue, one of the most distinctive signs is the headache behind the eyes, even in the absence of fever.

Limitations on fumigation and entry protocols

Canosa Besu emphasized that the poor collection of solid waste in the city promotes the proliferation of the vector. Additionally, the scarcity of diesel limits the fumigation capacity. “We can kill the adult mosquito, but the breeding ground remains. That is why environmental sanitation actions are more important than fumigation,” he warned.

Regarding healthcare, a new national protocol has been implemented: patients exhibiting warning signs, those with comorbidities, or minors under 15 years of age are admitted to hospitals, while mild cases are managed at home under the supervision of a physician and the family nurse. For pregnant women, specific beds are designated to keep them isolated.

Call to the community

The epidemiologist, whose dialogue was published on the social network Facebook, emphasized that controlling the mosquito largely depends on community discipline. Keeping backyards clean, mowing common areas, covering water storage containers, and collaborating with sanitation campaigns are essential measures. “What we call weekly self-focalization should almost become a daily practice in this context,” she noted.

The doctor also dismissed rumors about the circulation of a new strain of Covid-19 in the area, although she confirmed that the booster vaccination campaign has been reactivated for at-risk groups and for children who are turning two years old.

In a context marked by a lack of resources, the specialist emphasized that the commitment of the population will be crucial to controlling the spread of dengue and chikungunya in Cárdenas.

Sprout in the midst of silence

The Matanzas journalist Yirmara Torres Hernández, former president of the Union of Journalists of Cuba (UPEC) in Matanzas, reported an outbreak of arbovirosis that, according to her, affects the entire province, and criticized the official handling of the issue by local media and health authorities.

“Matanzas is experiencing a complete outbreak of arboviruses!! Please, this is not happening only in Cárdenas... it’s throughout Matanzas... Don’t distort reality any further, nor spread misinformation,” wrote the communicator in an extensive post published on Facebook, where she criticized the coverage by the official channel TV Yumurí, which reported a situation focused on the municipality of Cárdenas.

Frequently asked questions about the epidemiological situation in Cárdenas, Matanzas