In the midst of the chikungunya epidemic affecting Cuba and the numerous cases of dengue, Dr. Francisco Durán García, national director of Epidemiology at the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP), clarified that no cases of zika have been reported in the country, although he acknowledged that conditions for its emergence exist.
During an appearance on the Buenos Días program, the epidemiologist explained that the Zika virus is not currently circulating in the country, but warned that the risk of transmission remains due to the presence of the Aedes aegypti mosquito throughout the national territory.
“We have no diagnosed cases of Zika, but there are Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in the country and, therefore, the possibility of transmission exists,” Durán stated, emphasizing that the health system is maintaining active surveillance in case of any suspicions.
The specialist reiterated that chikungunya and dengue are currently the main health threats, with thousands of cases reported in recent weeks and transmission occurring in 14 provinces.
“We are in an epidemic of chikungunya”, he recalled, referring to the sustained increase in infections and the high infestation rate of the mosquito.
Durán's statement comes after he dismissed the presence of the West Nile virus (WNV) in Cuba. "No cases have been diagnosed," the official said on Wednesday's program.
In addition, he stated that the laboratories of the Institute of Tropical Medicine "process hundreds of samples, and none have tested positive" for that virus or for zica, although the latter is present in the Caribbean and Central America.
They have also not detected Oropuche virus, and it is noteworthy that no cases of that disease have been reported since September.
Durán described the West Nile virus as a disease with “milder symptoms” compared to chikungunya.
This Friday, the official acknowledged that the epidemiological situation in the country is very complex due to the high level of infestation and the lack of health resources to tackle the chikungunya epidemic in Cuba.
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