Cuban authorities recognize the existence of dengue and zika outbreaks in several provinces of the country

The official media Granma report that the Cuban health authorities recognize the existence of dengue and zika outbreaks in several provinces of the country and ask citizens to "strengthen preventive measures" in because of the increase of these viruses during the rainy summer months.

Francisco Durán, director of epidemiology of the Ministry of Public Health, said Granma : "In Cuba, chikunguña has not been reported for two years, and the yellow fever has been eliminated since 1909, but in the case of dengue and Zika, there are outbreaks of transmission in various territories of the country. "

Durán acknowledged that the increase in diseases transmitted by the mosquitoes in summer is due to the increase in heat coupled with rains. "

As Cubans well know, in recent months the island's climate has been marked by rains intense and suffocating heat that led Cubans to spread the rumor of the existence of a heat wave, something that experts have already refuted.

However, it is true that these conditions attract many vectors that contribute to the spread of viruses.

Granma for its part, does not provide accurate data on the number of people and places that have been most affected by these diseases.

However, it is known from the independent press that there have been cases of dengue lately on the island.

Just two weeks ago, three people died as a result of an outbreak of hemorrhagic fever dengue the Florida municipality of Camagüey, according to Diario de Cuba

Faced with this situation, according to Granma Cuban authorities respond with "weekly fumigations, home inspection, daily surveillance and screening of the population".

"The cornerstone of prevention and control of these viruses remains the responsibility of families and individuals to cooperate with these measures," said the director.

He also alluded to the importance of seeing the doctor deal with any symptom: "Trusting yourself and neglecting rigor and discipline in actions to eliminate this vector is the greatest risk to your health. "

It is common that respiratory and diarrheal diseases" increase "during the summer months, although it has emphasized that its incidence in the country" has decreased and that cholera does not occur. has not been reported for two years. "

official data Cuba reduced dengue cases by 68% in 2017, did not record any chikungunya patients, and detected autochthonous Zika virus transmission in 14 of its 169 municipalities .