Since the confirmation of the Oropouche virus in Cuba last May, no serious cases or deaths have been reported in the country and 506 people have been detected with this arbovirus, the lowest figure in the Latin American and Caribbean region, said Dr Francisco Durán, national director of Hygiene and Epidemiology, on Wednesday.

At a press conference, the specialist referred to the presence of the virus in the 15 provinces, 99 municipalities and 172 health areas.

He affirmed that 80 % of the people suspected of having Oropouche have been admitted home because they do not present a critical clinical condition.

At first it was thought that the virus had no complications, but recent studies, especially in Brazil, have shown serious cases of encephalitis, meningitis, mother-to-child transmission, miscarriage, foetal death, four newborns with microcephaly and two deaths, caused by Oropouche, explained the source.

In the Caribbean nation, we have only seen clinical cases of meningitis, with satisfactory recovery, he said.

He stressed that the most important thing is environmental sanitation, as Oropouche is transmitted by the bite of the culex mosquito and the culicoide (midge), which breed in dirty water.

Durán reiterated the importance of going immediately to the doctor for any symptoms associated with headaches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and high temperatures, as it is necessary to make a proper diagnosis due to the co-circulation of several arboviruses in the region, such as dengue.

He stressed that there are no vaccines or anti-virals for Oropouche, but treatments to alleviate the symptoms and it is necessary to maintain good hydration.