Cuban health authorities reported five additional deaths related to the current arbovirus epidemic and specified that the total number of deaths during the period has reached 52.
Of the total deaths, 34 are attributed to chikungunya and 18 to dengue, according to the report by Dr. Carilda Peña García, Deputy Minister of Public Health, during her daily update on Canal Caribe.
In that same update, Peña García detailed that on that day 539 cases of chikungunya were reported: 22 confirmed by PCR and 517 suspected cases.
The total number of accumulated cases is 47,003 (45,351 clinical suspects and 1,652 confirmed by PCR).
He added that the transmission covers 15 provinces and the special municipality, with 132 municipalities and 241 health areas contributing cases.
Regarding clinical severity, the deputy minister indicated that there were 36 patients admitted to intensive care, with 24 classified as severe (of which 19 are under 18 years old) and 12 in critical condition, “almost 100%” of whom are under 18 years old, including not only infants and newborns but also adolescents.
The report also included data on febrile behavior and dengue: 2,049 individuals with febrile syndrome were recorded, and it was noted that institutional admission is concentrated among individuals under 18 years of age according to protocol.
The rate of suspected dengue cases stood at 5.23 (down from 6.52 the previous day), with transmission remaining "in the same provinces."
Regarding vector control, the official explained that the rains affected the implementation of the adulticidal treatment, which decreased to 89% of what was planned, and mentioned operational limitations in several provinces due to a lack of manpower to operate equipment.
He also urged the importance of maintaining the abatements placed in storage and pointed out that the vector infestation rate remained high, particularly concentrated in Camagüey, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, and Pinar del Río.
Finally, he pointed out that the overall trend is a decrease in cases, although he noted that Holguín and Las Tunas were showing the highest weekly increase at that time. He warned that "zero cases" were not expected by the end of the year and that there would still be cases in January. Therefore, he emphasized that the measures for fumigation, sanitation, larviciding, detection, and isolation would not be lifted.
The situation regarding dengue and chikungunya in Cuba is critical, with an active epidemic affecting all provinces.
Despite official statements about a "slight improvement," the Ministry of Public Health has acknowledged that the figures do not reflect the true magnitude of the outbreak.
The lack of medications and the collapse of the healthcare system have led many Cubans to seek treatment at home, contributing to a massive underreporting.
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