Cuba: Dengue outbreak reported as of September

Event

At least 1,542 cases of dengue fever have been reported in Cuba as of September, affecting every province in the country. The outbreak has had a notable impact on 36 municipalities, including all towns in the Havana province. Sources indicate that in August hospitals were overwhelmed with the number of cases and patients demanding care, lacking the capacity to respond to such an outbreak. The number of fatalities has not officially been declared.

Further spread of the disease is possible in the coming weeks.

Context

Symptoms of dengue fever include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea, and rashes. Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is a potentially deadly complication that is characterized by high fever, the enlargement of the liver, and hemorrhaging.

Advice

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