Experts and scientists addressed the current situation of arboviruses in a meeting with the President, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez. On the programme Buenos Días, Vice Minister Carilda Peña García confirmed the death – to date – of 33 people from arboviruses, of the total, 12 deaths correspond to dengue (seven of them under 18 years old) and 21 to chikungunya (14 under 18 years old).
The current situation of arboviruses was, once again, the focus of this week’s meeting of the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, with experts and scientists on health topics. It was reported that there has been a decrease of 2.4% nationwide in cases of non-specific febrile syndrome, although with a slowdown compared to the previous week.
Despite the overall reduction in reports, there is an increase in seven provinces: Las Tunas, Holguín, Pinar del Río, Mayabeque, Granma, Pinar del Río and Sancti Spíritus, mainly in the first three, informed Doctor Carilda Peña García, Vice Minister of Public Health.
Moderated by the sector’s head, Doctor José Angel Portal Miranda, at another point in the meeting Doctor of Sciences Raúl Guinovart Díaz, an expert in Mathematics and Director of Science and Technology at the University of Havana, emphasised that, according to the prediction analysis by regions and country, the behaviour of arboviruses in the coming weeks will be unfavourable.
In a separate conversation with the press, Guinovart Díaz explained that, in addition to the vector control actions being carried out, this time of year, with a decrease in temperatures, is conducive to reducing Aedes aegypti infestation.
However, he warned that the mosquito will now seek refuge in warmer places, especially inside homes, which is why it is vital that the population reinforces preventive measures within their houses, particularly the elimination of potential breeding sites.
Earlier, Doctor Carilda Peña García reported that dengue transmission maintains the same pattern as the previous week. It is present in 14 provinces, 43 municipalities and 51 Health areas.
Regarding Chikungunya, she explained that in the last three weeks a decrease has been observed, reaching a 25.9% drop in the week that ended, when out of 5,716 new febrile cases, 5,409 were reported as suspected and 307 were confirmed.
To date, 38,342 cases of Chikungunya are accounted for, of which 37,101 are suspected and 1,241 confirmed. They are reported in all 15 territories of the country and are concentrated in 113 municipalities and 199 Health areas. Regarding Oropouche, she indicated that no cases were reported last week either; the last was confirmed on 26 September.
On the situation of acute respiratory infections (ARIs), the Vice Minister of Health reported that there has been a decrease over the last five weeks.
In the recently concluded week – she said – there is also a 2.4% decrease compared to the preceding one, with fewer than 893 medical consultations for this cause. However – she clarified – a period should begin where ARIs increase.
«This endemic corridor is not in the epidemic zone – she assured –, but there are a group of viruses circulating and cases that should keep us alert.»
The specialist provided new data on COVID-19 surveillance. She stated that in October only 13 cases were diagnosed. During the year, 3,407 studies for COVID-19 have been carried out, 1,896 PCR tests and 1,511 antigen tests. Surveillance has been maintained, the resources for it are available and there has been no variation in the Omicron strain and the subvariants that have been circulating.
Commenting on the data presented by the Minsap authorities, Díaz-Canel insisted on the need to continue providing the population with all the information, to do so with complete transparency and breadth and to do it daily.
Regarding the use of new technologies for vector control, with emphasis on the Aedes aegypti mosquito, specialists from the IPK elaborated on techniques such as the sterile insect technique, through irradiation; the genetic modification of these (transgenic) and the use of bacteria that infect the mosquito, all with the aim of reducing or eliminating its population.
These are techniques validated and promoted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) that have achieved significant development in more than 20 countries, with Brazil leading the Latin America and Caribbean region. (Author: René Tamayo León)
