Cuba maintains surveillance on arboviruses, says health authority

Havana, July 31 (RHC) Cuba's Deputy Minister of Public Health, Carilda Peña, said that health authorities are keeping a watchful eye on dengue (endemic in the country) and oropouche, both of which are newly circulating and are caused by mosquitoes.

For the first time, Cuba is facing at this time of the year -summer season- the circulation of two arboviruses with a very similar initial evolution in patients who come to health services, in addition to the detection of cases of Covid-19.

Peña confirmed in an interview with Cuban television that the oropouche is already present in all the provinces, and said that the surveillance system must be maintained because very little is known about the after-effects.

Due to the prevailing high temperatures, health professionals are also monitoring acute diarrheal diseases and acute respiratory infections, although the deputy minister ruled out the existence of outbreaks of these diseases in the national territory.

Before the appearance of symptoms of any of these ailments, Peña advised the population to go immediately to the doctor, not to diagnose themselves and to maintain the hygienic measures to avoid the reproduction of the mosquitoes transmitting these viruses.

In this context, he indicated a correct hydration, not to consume food of doubtful origin and to maintain adequate hand hygiene (Source: Prensa Latina)