The results of samples of two patients residing in the municipality of Colombia sent to the Pedro Kourí Tropical Medicine Institute (IPK), confirmed what the health authorities of this province in eastern Cuba already suspected. The Oropouche virus is circulating in Las Tunas.

Las Tunas, Cuba.- "We are monitoring arboviruses and all febrile syndromes," said Dr. Aldo Cortés González, deputy director of the Provincial Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology, and Microbiology. He added that the news reaffirms the importance of the population attending health centers for any nonspecific febrile syndrome and the need to strengthen community hygiene to prevent the proliferation of mosquitoes, both Aedes aegypti and Culex.

"Due to the increase in diseases in this period of high temperatures, the call is, first of all, to go to your family doctor, who is authorized to diagnose and determine what may be the cause of the fever," Cortés González stressed.

He emphasized that the territory's epidemiological scenario is becoming more complex with the circulation of "many viruses -both respiratory and digestive- that may be accompanied by fever."

The doctor highlighted key factors: "people’s self-responsibility of protecting themselves against mosquito bites and going to the doctor when they have any symptoms; as well as caring for risk groups, such as the elderly and other people with some comorbidity."

Detected for the first time in Cuba at the end of May, the Oropouche virus has already spread to several provinces. The main symptoms are high fever, headache and joint pain, general malaise, vomiting, and diarrhea.

There is no specific treatment, only symptomatic, but the patient must be closely monitored to prevent complications such as encephalitis or meningitis.