Havana/The Cuban Ministry of Public Health this Friday raised the total number of deaths in the current dengue and chikungunya epidemic to 55 by confirming three more deaths since the last count, offered on Wednesday, when there were 52. The three deaths were due to chikungunya, which brings the number of deaths from this disease to 37, with lower fatality rates than dengue in the rest of the world, but which on the Island, where it has never circulated at will, is leaving serious complications.
The Vice Minister of Public Health, Carilda Peña, assured this Friday that yesterday 2,188 cases of non-specific febrile syndrome were registered, the first common symptom of both arboviruses, and then 372 new cases of chikungunya were confirmed, for a total of 47,756 infections due to this disease.
The official did not offer the number of dengue cases detected that day. However, the Pan American Health Organization, which collects official figures, indicated last week that dengue infections amounted to 25,995 from the beginning of the year to the end of November. Since then, the data for this disease on the Island has not been updated.
Peña stated that 43 patients are currently in intensive care, of which “the largest number are still under 18 years of age.”
Peña stated that 43 patients are currently in intensive care, of which “the largest number are still under 18 years of age.”
The health authorities have reiterated that the numbers of infected people are underreported, because many patients do not go to medical centers, mainly due to the deterioration of public services on the Island and the belief that they will not be able to provide them with any treatment that will cause them to improve. However, specialists have insisted that all children under two years of age with symptoms should be taken to a medical center as soon as possible, as should older adults or people with chronic diseases that place them as a vulnerable group.
The Cuban Government recognized for the first time on November 12 that the country was suffering from an epidemic of chikungunya and dengue, despite the fact that the first cases were diagnosed in July and that infections had skyrocketed in September and October.
Two and a half weeks before recognizing the epidemic, the Cuban Government made an international request for help for Hurricane Melissa, which included large quantities of chemicals to combat the mosquito, the vector of transmission of dengue and chikungunya.
The epidemic has found fertile ground in Cuba to spread due to the country’s serious economic crisis, which limits the prevention capacity – mainly through massive fumigation against mosquitoes, for which there are no materials or fuel to transport technicians -, control and care for the sick, due to lack of medicines and other health supplies.
