Cuban oHealth Ministry reports on national epidemiological situation

HAVANA, Cuba, November 24 (ACN) Dr. Carilda Peña Garcia, Cuban Deputy Minister of Public Health, reported today on the country's situation regarding arboviruses (mainly chikungunya and dengue) at the close of epidemiological week 47.

On the Cuban television program "Buenos Dias," the Deputy Minister stated that 39,760 cases of nonspecific febrile syndromes were reported, a figure that represents a 15.8 % decrease compared to the previous week.

She specified that the increase in cases occurred in 61 municipalities, constituting 36.3% of the total, while all provinces, with the exception of Matanzas and the special municipality of Isle of Youth, showed epidemic activity.

The situation is considered dangerous due to the increase in patients in serious and critical condition, many of them minors. 156 people were admitted to ICUs, 96 more than the previous week, the deputy minister added.

121 patients were reported in serious condition, 96 of whom were under 18 years old, and 35 in critical condition, 34 of whom were also under 18.

Peña Garcia reiterated the call for the public to seek medical attention for any symptoms, especially newborns, children under one year old, people over 65, and pregnant women.

Regarding chikungunya, the week ended with 7,700 new cases, an increase of 4,449 compared to the previous week; of these, 137 were confirmed by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing.As for dengue, transmission remained active in 14 provinces, with an incidence rate that increased to 22.6%.

The provinces with the highest number of cases were Sancti Spiritus, Villa Clara, Havana, Guantanamo, Ciego de Avila, and Santiago de Cuba.

In vector control efforts, 8,545 Aedes aegypti breeding sites were detected, with an infestation index of 0.72 considered high.

According to the Deputy Minister, the municipalities with the highest infestation rates were Camagüey, Pinar del Rio, Sancti Spiritus, and Havana.

She clarified that the fumigation strategy was not implemented across the entire population as in previous years, due to fuel and insecticide limitations.

Instead, priority was given to city blocks with the most active transmission to reduce the vector population and break the chain of transmission.

Provinces such as Havana, Santiago de Cuba, and Granma achieved more than 90% of their planned fumigation efforts, with the goal of ensuring that at least one action was carried out in every urban area of ​​the country.

Historically, November is the most challenging month for arboviruses, with dengue being hyperendemic, and cases are expected to begin declining in the first or second week of December, Peña Garcia pointed out.

Since chikungunya is transmitted by the same vector, he estimated that December will see a reduction in reported cases.