Cuba's Health Minister Acknowledges Serious Dengue Situation Amidst Global Spike

In an address to the National Assembly of People's Power (ANPP), Cuba's Minister of Public Health, José Ángel Portal Miranda, acknowledged the mounting concern over the dengue situation sweeping across several provinces in the country. Despite the presence of all four dengue serotypes, no Cuban province has been officially branded an epidemic zone. However, a significant number of reported cases in regions such as Pinar del Río, Villa Clara, Las Tunas, Holguín, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo underscore the seriousness of the health concern.

The Dengue Outbreak in Cuba

By late October, it was reported that the municipality of Jesús Menéndez in Las Tunas province had entered an official phase of dengue transmission following a spike in cases. The dengue outbreak has already claimed the life of social worker Yanina Allende, leaving behind three young children. Health Minister Sergio Rodriguez acknowledges the severity of the dengue endemic in the province and the delayed response to the outbreak.

The Global Impact of Dengue

The World Health Organization reports a global spike in dengue cases, with over 5 million cases and 5,000 deaths across 80 countries. Bangladesh is also grappling with a severe dengue outbreak, with 12 more deaths reported within 24 hours, raising the fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 364 this year.

Dengue: A Global Health Concern

Dengue, a tropical and subtropical disease, has been recording alarming case and death numbers, with a historic peak in Peru and Brazil leading the number of dengue cases worldwide. The disease is also spreading to temperate regions like Europe. The upsurge in dengue cases has been linked to factors such as climate change, international travel, and urbanization. Argentina is battling a dramatic surge in dengue cases, with 135,676 cases and 68 deaths reported as of mid-December, attributed to the El Niño climate phenomenon.

As the minister's report suggests a level of epidemiological stability, it also highlights ongoing risks of local dengue outbreaks in Cuba. Health authorities are taking preventive measures and urging the public to use repellents, wear protective clothing, and eliminate mosquito breeding grounds.