Cuba: Dengue fever outbreak reported in Holguín

Event

According to health officials in Cuba, at least 4260 cases of dengue fever were reported in Holguín province during the month of August, a 65 percent increase over the number of cases reported in the province during the month of July. Public health measures, including fumigation campaigns aimed at eliminating mosquito breeding grounds, are anticipated in the coming days and weeks.

Context

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease found mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea, and rash. In a small number of cases, the potentially deadly dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) may develop, resulting in internal bleeding, enlargement of the liver, and high fever.

Advice

Individuals present in Cuba are advised to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites (e.g. by wearing covering clothing, using insect repellent, and sleeping in a screened-in or air-conditioned room) and to eliminate possible mosquito breeding grounds on their properties (e.g. small pockets of fresh water, such as rainwater that has collected in cans, bottles, tires, flower pots, clogged gutters, etc.).