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Health authorities in Ciego de Ávila are investigating a possible outbreak of hepatitis in several municipalities of the province following the detection of several suspected cases.
Dr. José Luis López González, Deputy Director of Epidemiology at the Provincial Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology, and Microbiology, informed the official newspaper Invasor that the Health system activated the established epidemiological protocols from the first reports, with the aim of identifying the type of hepatitis and its source.
"We are working on the precise characterization of these events, taking samples and conducting the corresponding laboratory studies to determine the type of hepatitis and its possible origin," López explained.
The report does not specify the number of detected cases nor the locations where they have been recorded, but the fact that it has been disclosed by the official press suggests that these are not isolated incidents.
The technical teams are conducting field research in the affected areas, analyzing potential risk factors such as sources of contamination in water or food, while prevention and control measures are being intensified.
These include the disinfection of high-risk areas, monitoring of close contacts with suspected cases, and reviewing hygienic and sanitary conditions in public establishments.
What the official and the state-run newspaper do not explain is that, currently, due to the precarious access to water and food shortages, the population is often forced to bypass hygiene regulations.
However, the epidemiologist urged the population to maintain strict hygiene measures, such as frequent handwashing, the consumption of boiled or treated water, and proper food handling.
“Citizen collaboration is essential to prevent the spread of any communicable disease,” the official emphasized.
Authorities assure that they will continue monitoring the epidemiological situation until it is clarified and reiterated that anyone with symptoms such as fever, jaundice, nausea, or abdominal pain should seek their family doctor immediately.
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