The province of Guantánamo is experiencing the most severe epidemiological situation of the year due to dengue, with three municipalities in the active transmission phase of the disease, another three under surveillance, and more than 30 confirmed cases from PCR tests.
According to information reported on Wednesday by the official newspaper Venceremos, Imías, Baracoa, and Guantánamo remain in active transmission, while El Salvador, Manuel Tames, and San Antonio del Sur are under monitoring due to the increase in febrile and suspected patients.
Dr. Alina López Herrera, epidemiologist of the arboviral disease program in the province, also confirmed the simultaneous circulation of serotypes 2, 3, and 4 of the virus.
The infestation of the transmitting mosquito exceeds permissible levels across the entire territory, including in Maisí and Yateras, municipalities that had not previously reported transmission.
The capital municipality presents the most persistent situation and maintains infestation rates higher than the provincial and national averages. This indicates an expansion of the problem beyond the municipalities officially declared to be in transmission.
The situation is also starting to be reflected in the severity of the cases. Over the past six weeks, serious cases with alarming signs have emerged, mainly in children, according to the specialist.
López noted that some patients, in addition to fever and joint pain, exhibit respiratory symptoms, a manifestation that he attributed to a mutation of the virus and which, in his opinion, necessitates heightened vigilance.
The protocol maintains hospital admission for children under two years old, pregnant women, and individuals with pre-existing conditions, while other patients receive follow-up care at home from their family doctor.
Health authorities once again placed part of the responsibility on households. According to López, 80% of the breeding sites for the mosquito Aedes aegypti are found within homes, which is why he emphasized the need to eliminate containers and other potential breeding grounds.
The specialist also warned that the situation may worsen in the coming weeks due to the rain. She explained that the insect's eggs can remain viable for up to a year while waiting for water, which increases the risk of new outbreaks when conditions are favorable.
At the end of July, Guantánamo reported 23 suspected cases of dengue and kept Imías and San Antonio del Sur under epidemiological alert. Since then, the situation has expanded to include three municipalities in active transmission and a widespread infestation throughout the province.
In mid-August, the authorities acknowledged a marked worsening due to the increase of Aedes aegypti and highlighted the critical factor as the lack of researchers to detect fever cases.
At the end of that same month, the province remained under Epidemiological Alarm while accumulating micro and mega dumps that serve as breeding grounds for the transmitting mosquito, exacerbated by the fuel shortage that halted garbage collection trucks.
In June, the Deputy Minister of Public Health, Carilda Peña, publicly warned that "if we do not take a series of actions, we could face an epidemic."
The most eastern of the Cuban provinces has a recurring history as one of the most affected by dengue in Cuba. In October 2022, it was identified as the first territory in the country for the transmission of the disease, with nearly 1,600 breeding sites with larvae in more than 1,300 homes.
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