Chikungunya Poses Increased Threat to Children, Warns Cuban Health Officials

Cuban health authorities have raised alarms that chikungunya can lead to severe complications in young children and pregnant women, groups particularly vulnerable to this viral disease.

During a press conference covered by Cuban Television, specialists from the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) highlighted that infants under three months and pregnant women are the most at-risk populations for chikungunya, a disease that continues its spread across the nation.

Dr. Yamirka Montesinos, head of the National Group for Pediatric Intensive and Emergency Medicine, cautioned that the infection can pose more frequent complications in very young infants, necessitating a distinct medical monitoring protocol for this age group.

"The disease is highly symptomatic, beginning with sudden and persistent fever lasting 48 to 72 hours, which is difficult to manage with standard antipyretic measures. This situation can cause anxiety and desperation among families, making it crucial to seek medical assistance to ensure that the dosage of antipyretics is correct according to the child's weight," the specialist elaborated.

Meanwhile, Dr. Dayana Couto, president of the Cuban Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics, emphasized the necessity for pregnant women to seek immediate medical attention at any sign of fever or suspicious symptoms.

"Facilities are set up for monitoring pregnant women with febrile syndrome. The key is not to delay seeking care," she stressed.

Following the experts' warnings, Deputy Minister of Public Health, Carilda Peña García, provided an overview of the challenging epidemiological landscape facing the country, with reports of suspected and confirmed cases of chikungunya and dengue across all provinces.

Peña noted that the highest epidemiological risk is currently in Matanzas, Cienfuegos, Havana, Pinar del Río, and Guantánamo, while the highest infestation rates of the Aedes aegypti mosquito are recorded in Sancti Spíritus, Camagüey, Santiago de Cuba, Havana, and Villa Clara.

Health authorities reiterated the call for early medical consultation and maintaining domestic prevention against the mosquito vector, amidst increasing strain on the healthcare system and a shortage of resources for vector control.

Despite health officials' attempts to convey calm in the face of chikungunya and other arboviruses' spread, the reality depicts a far more critical scenario.

In several provinces, the epidemic has claimed the lives of children and overwhelmed hospitals that lack essential medications and resources to care for patients.

While official media attempts to project normalcy, entire families are falling ill and report that healthcare facilities are unable to cope.

Accounts from various provinces describe a lack of mosquito nets, absence of fumigation, and delays in receiving medical care, especially in vulnerable communities.

In the eastern regions of the country, Guantánamo has had to set up shelters for children due to the rise in febrile cases. This decision highlighted the outbreak's scale and the hospital system's inability to manage the surge in infections. Yet, local authorities continue to maintain a narrative of control and health stability.

The crisis has escalated to the point where the government has been forced to improvise hospitals for children amidst the collapse of pediatric centers.

These makeshift spaces, lacking proper equipment, starkly illustrate the gap between official narratives and the harsh reality faced by thousands of Cuban families affected by chikungunya and dengue.