Oropouche Virus: Sancti Spíritus with no Diagnosed Cases

At the beginning of February, the Pan American Health Organization issued an epidemiological alert in the Americas region due to an increase in the detection of cases of Oropouche fever in some areas of the continent.

On May 27, the Cuban Ministry of Public Health, in an official note, announced the presence of the Oropouche fever virus in two health areas of the province of Santiago de Cuba, in the municipalities of Santiago de Cuba and Songo La Maya.

Sancti Spíritus has not reported to date any patient diagnosed with the Oropouche virus, which causes the Oropouche fever and whose presence has also been confirmed in Cienfuegos.

According to Dr. Merlyn Rodríguez Estévez, head of the International Health Control and Arbovirosis Section of the Provincial Center of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology (CPHEM), epidemiological surveillance is being intensified in the territory, with emphasis on non-specific fever syndromes.

Oropouche -explained Rodríguez Estévez- is transmitted by the bite of the Culicoides paraensis midge, not detected in Cuba so far, and the Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito, which inhabits any type of water, whether clean or sewage; inside or outside the domiciliary; hence, its difficult control.

Referring to the symptoms, the also first degree specialist in Hygiene and Epidemiology indicated that this virus is characterized by high fever, sudden onset, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, skin lesions and bleeding gums.

The clinical picture -he added- is similar to dengue; therefore, the population is advised to go to health services, such as family doctors, polyclinics or hospitals, where there is qualified personnel to define the conduct to follow.

Among the prevention measures, Rodriguez Estevez recommended the use of repellent on exposed skin; the use of clothes that cover the legs and arms, especially in those vulnerable people who stay long periods at home, as well as forestry and agricultural workers.

He also pointed out the need to carry out a systematic sanitation of spaces and the implementation of autofocals in homes.

The virus was detected through monitoring and surveillance of non-specific febrile syndromes, based on samples studied at the national reference laboratory of the Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine (IPK).