The Cuban Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) confirmed on 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 reported on the MV Hondius cruise, 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 Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel, where they analyzed the characteristics, evolution, and treatment of the disease.
"So far, the presence of these vectors in Cuba has not been documented," the official stated, adding that the virus "is not known in Cuba; there are no reports of outbreaks having occurred in the country throughout history."
The outbreak that raised international alarms originated aboard the expedition cruise MV Hondius, registered under the Dutch flag, which set sail 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 entering Cuba is its long incubation period.
"It has an incubation period of around eight weeks. This means that people who have had close contact with infected individuals need to undergo a monitoring period of up to eight weeks because they could be incubating the disease during that 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 enter the country," which is why she emphasized the need to strengthen epidemiological surveillance at the borders.
Cuban authorities have intensified inspections at ports, airports, and marinas, including the examination of aircraft and ships to detect signs of rodents, which are the vectors of the virus.
The MV Hondius docked in Tenerife on May 10 after being denied entry by Cabo Verde, and the full evacuation of all its passengers was completed on May 11.
Despite the global alert, the World Health Organization (WHO) dismissed the possibility that the situation could lead to a pandemic.
Dr. Peña García referenced the statements of the WHO's Director-General, who "does not currently classify this situation as a pandemic, similar 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, washing hands, and seeing a doctor if any symptoms arise, especially for those with a history of contact with individuals from areas where the virus is circulating.
"It is a situation that the population should be aware of, not to cause alarm, but to be informed and, above all, for their individual protection," she emphasized.
"There are no reasons for alarm, but we must remain vigilant," concluded Dr. Peña García, as Cuban health authorities continue to monitor the international outbreak and reinforce controls at all entry points to the country.
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