MADRID, Spain.- The Cuban Resistance Assembly (ARC), A coalition of 54 organizations inside and outside Cuba, issued a warning to Florida authorities about the risk of contagion of the virus. Oropouchedetected in a growing number of travelers returning from the Island. In a letter addressed to local, regional and federal authorities, the ARC requested the implementation of a “temporary moratorium” on travel to Cuba.
“The Cuban Resistance Assembly asks the authorities of Miami-Dade County and the state of Florida to protect residents from the dangers associated with the dangerous epidemiological and health situation in Cuba, by issuing a temporary moratorium on travel to the island, until the health crisis is resolved,” reads the document sent this week to political figures, including the mayor of Miami-Dade County, Daniela Levine Cava; Florida Governor Ron DeSantis; and Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott.
The ARC expresses concern about the threat posed by the “constant and significant flow of people between Cuba and South Florida,” warning that this dynamic facilitates the spread of the virus in U.S. territory. The coalition recalled that the epidemiological situation in Cuba is alarming, with reports indicating that Oropouche fever has spread to all 15 provinces of the country.
The ARC call is based on the recent identification of 21 cases Oropouche fever cases have been reported in the United States, 20 of which have been reported in Florida among people returning from Cuba. Of these cases, three patients required hospitalization. The information was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday, August 27.
A few days earlier, the CDC had issued a Level 2 Warning to travelers planning to visit Cuba. This warning advises taking extreme precautions to avoid mosquito bites, including the use of insect repellent, long-sleeved clothing, and staying in places protected with mosquito nets. It is also recommended to avoid outdoor activities during the hours when mosquitoes are most active, that is, at dawn and dusk.
The Cuban Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) confirmed this Wednesday that since May, when the first case was detected on the Island, the number of people infected with the Oropouche virus in the country has promoted to 506. Although Cuban authorities insist that no serious cases or deaths have been reported, Testimonies from the population Cuban suggest a different reality.
