Miguel Ángel Ruano, president of the Cuban Medical Guild Free, has accessed a letter from the Cuban Ministry of Health sent to directors and heads of postgraduate departments on the island, warning that the current epidemiological situation could become "more complex." The Ministry refers to the increase in cases of "unspecified" fever reported in Santiago de Cuba, which has been acknowledged by the official press.
Ruano believes that "the healthcare system is not prepared to face" this Oropouche epidemic in Cuba, and the lack of resources could lead to many of these infections developing into more severe conditions like meningitis or encephalitis. In fact, in the letter addressed to postgraduate heads, Professor José Luis Aparicio Suárez, Director General of Medical Teaching, acknowledges that "there are currently no specific vaccines or antiviral medications available to treat OROV infection." Therefore, the recommended treatment approach is palliative, "focused on pain relief, rehydrating the patient, and controlling any vomiting that may occur."
Additionally, it warns that in cases where "the disease manifests neuroinvasively, the patient will need to be admitted to specialized units for constant monitoring." In an interview with CiberCuba, Miguel Ángel Ruano, a Cuban doctor residing in Colombia, explained that in his letter to department heads, Dr. José Luis Aparicio Suárez discusses the need to prepare department leaders, following an alert from the Pan American Health Organization regarding outbreaks of the Oropouche virus (OROV). This virus is transmitted through the bites of the Culicoides paraensis midge and the Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito.
According to the document accessed by CiberCuba and sent to the Cuban Medical Guild Free by its members on the island, the incubation period is 5 to 7 days, during which patients experience high fever, headache with photophobia, myalgia, arthralgia, and in some cases, exanthema. "In certain patients, symptoms can be more severe and include vomiting and hemorrhages," the letter insists, clarifying that the infection can last from 2 to 3 weeks.
The letter also admits that "in exceptional situations," OROV can cause meningitis and encephalitis, with patients showing symptoms such as vertigo, lethargy, nystagmus, and neck stiffness. As usual, the virus can be detected in the cerebrospinal fluid.
Lastly, the letter discusses vector control measures focused on "reducing mosquito populations by identifying and eliminating breeding and resting sites of the vectors."
Understanding the Oropouche Virus Outbreak in Cuba
Given the current concerns about the Oropouche virus outbreak in Cuba, here are some important questions and answers to provide more insight into the situation.
What is the Oropouche virus?
The Oropouche virus (OROV) is a virus transmitted through the bites of the Culicoides paraensis midge and the Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito. It can cause symptoms such as high fever, headaches, myalgia, and in severe cases, meningitis and encephalitis.
What are the symptoms of an Oropouche virus infection?
Symptoms of OROV infection include high fever, headache with photophobia, myalgia, arthralgia, exanthema, vomiting, and hemorrhages. In severe cases, it can lead to meningitis and encephalitis, with symptoms like vertigo, lethargy, nystagmus, and neck stiffness.
Is there a treatment for the Oropouche virus?
Currently, there are no specific vaccines or antiviral medications available to treat OROV infection. The treatment approach is palliative, focusing on pain relief, rehydration, and controlling any vomiting.
What measures can be taken to control the spread of the Oropouche virus?
Vector control measures are essential to reduce mosquito populations by identifying and eliminating breeding and resting sites of the vectors.