Faced with increased rainfall and the proliferation of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, the province of Ciego de Ávila is registering a significant increase in febrile cases and the circulation of arboviruses.

This situation, predicted by the endemic channels, has led the health authorities to officially declare the transmission of these diseases in two health areas: the Belkis Sotomayor polyclinic, in the head municipality, and the South polyclinic of Morón.

Doctor José Luis López González, deputy director of Epidemiology, detailed that, although diseases such as Zika and Yellow Fever are monitored, the province has confirmed cases of Oropouche and a strong suspicion of Chikungunya.

He specified that, except in the municipality of Primero de Enero, circulation of these viruses is reported, although the definitive confirmation of Chikungunya requires the isolation of the virus, a process carried out at the Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine (IPK).

The authorities made an urgent call for citizen responsibility, emphasising the need to eliminate mosquito breeding sites through the collection of solid waste and environmental sanitation.

Likewise, it was insisted that the population should see a doctor for any febrile symptoms and not refuse to take the Immunoglobulin M (IGM) test on the sixth day of fever, which is fundamental for an accurate diagnosis.

Although vector control actions remain reinforced, the situation in the rest of the province continues to be evaluated, so declaring transmission in other territories is not ruled out.

Diagnosis through the IGM test is vital to define whether the main problem is dengue or another arbovirus, and thus effectively contain the spread.