Rivera (C) explained that due to the country's current fuel situation there will not be intensive fumigation as foreseen in the usual protocol.   Photo taken from Prensa Latina

Havana, July 6 (RHC)-- The national director of Surveillance and Vector Control of the Cuban Ministry of Public Health (Minsap), Madelaine Rivera, warned on Tuesday that four provinces of the country have open transmission of dengue fever, a situation that is becoming complex due to the high infestation by the Aedes aegypti also known as yellow fever mosquito.

The official explained at a press conference that the eastern provinces of Holguin, Las Tunas and Camagüey report high transmission, as well as Havana (west), especially the municipalities of Playa and Cotorro.

"In 17 municipalities in the country, 60.8 percent of the outbreaks are concentrated in the provinces of Holguín (13.5), Camagüey (11.8), Santiago de Cuba (13) and Havana (16.5)," he said.

Rivera called on the population to minimize transmission with comprehensive actions in the communities. She commented that 83 percent of the focus is concentrated in homes, especially in household water storage tanks.

In view of this situation, actions are oriented in 71 at risk municipalities based on a 
treatment with abate, a product that will reach one hundred percent of the homes in these localities.

She explained that due to the current fuel situation in the country, there will not be intensive fumigations as foreseen in the usual protocol, but work will be done to detect possible outbreaks.

The National Director of Surveillance and Antivectorial Control of Minsap emphasized that when a case of dengue is detected, different actions will be taken to reduce the risk of other members of the family of contracting the disease.

Dengue affects people of all ages. It is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms vary from a mild fever to an incapacitating fever, accompanied by intense headache, pain behind the eyes, muscles and joints, and skin rash. (Source: PL)