The Ministry of Public Health of Cuba (MINSAP) confirmed this Tuesday that there is no documented presence of hantavirus in Cuban territory, but it has activated its epidemiological surveillance protocols in response to the outbreak recorded on the MV Hondius cruise ship, which has resulted in three deaths and nine confirmed cases.
The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Carilda Peña García, made these statements to the Caribbean Channel during a meeting of health experts and scientists with the Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel, where the characteristics, evolution, and treatment of the disease were discussed.
"Until now, the presence of these vectors in Cuba has not been documented," the official stated, adding that the virus "is not known in Cuba, and there are no reports of outbreaks occurring in the country in history."
The outbreak that triggered international alarms originated aboard the expedition cruise MV Hondius, flying the Dutch flag, which departed from the Argentine port of Ushuaia on April 1 with 88 passengers and 59 crew members from 23 nationalities.
As of May 12, the outbreak had recorded nine confirmed cases by PCR, two probable cases, and three fatalities: a Dutch couple and a German woman.
The identified variant is the Andes virus, the only strain of hantavirus with documented person-to-person transmission, although only through close and prolonged contact.
One of the main risks of the virus being introduced in Cuba is its long incubation period.
"It has an incubation period of about eight weeks. This means that individuals who have had close contact with sick people must undergo a monitoring period of up to eight weeks because they could be incubating the disease during that entire time," explained Dr. Peña García.
The official warned that the virus "can be introduced because it has a long incubation period and individuals who may be carrying the disease can arrive in the country," emphasizing the need to strengthen epidemiological surveillance at the borders.
Cuban authorities intensified inspections at ports, airports, and marinas, including the examination of aircraft and vessels to detect signs of rodents, which are the vectors of the virus.
The MV Hondius docked in Tenerife on May 10 after being turned away by Cabo Verde, and the complete evacuation of all its passengers was finalized on May 11.
Despite the global alert, the World Health Organization (WHO) ruled out that the situation could lead to a pandemic.
Dr. Peña García referenced the statements of the Director-General of the WHO, who "does not classify this situation as a pandemic, akin to COVID," given the known transmission mechanism and the accumulated experience in managing the disease.
The Deputy Minister urged the public to stay informed without succumbing to panic, and recommended wearing masks in the event of acute respiratory infections, regular handwashing, and seeking medical attention for any symptoms, especially if there has been prior contact with individuals from areas where the virus is prevalent.
"It's a situation that the population should be aware of, not to cause alarm, but rather to stay informed and, above all, for their individual protection," he emphasized.
"There is no cause for alarm, but we must remain vigilant," concluded Dr. Peña García, while Cuban health authorities continue to monitor the international outbreak and strengthen controls at all points of entry into the country.
Filed under: