The Oropouche virus has reached a worrying rate in Cuba, with more than 400 confirmed cases as of early August, according to the Minister of Public Health, José Ángel Portal Miranda.
During the opening of an international event in Havana, Portal Miranda revealed that the disease, first detected in Santiago de Cuba at the end of May, is now present in all the provinces of the country.
This outbreak places Cuba in second place in the Americas in terms of the number of infections by this virus, only surpassed by Brazil, which has registered more than 7,000 cases.
Apart from Cuba, other countries such as Bolivia, Peru and Colombia have reported a smaller number of infections. So far, Brazil is the only country that has reported deaths associated with the virus.
The Minister of Health made these statements during the 18th edition of the International Course on Dengue and other Emerging Arboviruses, which is being held at the Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine (IPK) in Havana, with the participation of representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO).
However, it was not specified whether the cases reported in Cuba were confirmed through laboratory tests, a scarce resource on the island due to the lack of reagents.
The figure provided by Portal Miranda contrasts with the 35,000 cases of febrile syndrome reported by the Ministry of Health at the beginning of July, which were grouped under the category of “endemic channel.” This disparity has raised concerns about the true magnitude of the epidemiological crisis in Cuba.
US alert on travel to Cuba
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued a Level 2 travel alert, warning travelers about the rise in cases of the Oropouche virus in Cuba.
The alert includes specific recommendations for visitors to take extra precautions, and in particular advises pregnant women to avoid travel to the island unless absolutely necessary.
The Oropouche virus, which is transmitted through mosquito bites and is often confused with dengue due to the similarity of its symptoms, has caused growing concern in both Cuba and Europe.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has reported an increase in imported cases of the disease, with at least 19 cases detected in countries such as Spain, Italy and Germany, most of them related to recent travel to Cuba.
Durán describes the situation as “complex”
Dr. Francisco Durán, Cuba’s national director of Hygiene and Epidemiology, described the epidemiological situation in the country as “complex” due to the simultaneous circulation of several viruses, including influenza, dengue and oropouche.
Durán noted that although the Oropouche virus was initially considered benign, cases with serious complications, including meningoencephalitis, have recently been observed, especially in Brazil.
The specialist also highlighted that some patients in Cuba have experienced up to three relapses in a single month, which further aggravates the public health situation.
Despite efforts to intensify control and prevention measures, Durán acknowledged that the lack of resources, such as those needed for fumigation campaigns, is complicating the fight against the spread of the virus on the island.
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