HAVANA (Reuters) – Cuban well being authorities launched small-scale fumigation efforts in Havana on Friday to struggle the unfold of the Oropouche virus, however a wet Caribbean summer time, gas shortages and rising roadside trash heaps are complicating these efforts, staff and officers stated.
Greater than 500 circumstances of the virus have been registered since Might when the illness was first detected in far-eastern Cuba, well being officers stated this week.
The virus, also called sloth fever, is transmitted by the chew of mosquitoes and midges and has unfold rapidly throughout the entire nation’s provinces and main cities, together with the capital Havana. Sufferers complain of fever, physique aches and nausea, although the illness is never deadly.
Fumigation staff utilizing hand-held, gas-powered blowers fired smoke into darkish corners and alleyways in components of Havana on Friday, although these efforts have been stymied, partially, by restricted sources.
“Previously, all of the blocks had been fumigated each week … however now, as a result of gas (shortages), they deal with particular circumstances the place (fever outbreaks) happen,” stated Havana fumigation employee Luís Aguilar.
U.S. well being authorities earlier this week stated 21 U.S. residents who had visited Cuba throughout the summer time months returned residence with circumstances of Oropouche.
Cuba has reported comparatively few circumstances in comparison with different international locations, together with Brazil, the place the virus can be current, and no fatalities.
However financial disaster and shortages of gas, meals and drugs have hampered efforts to regulate the unfold of such mosquito-borne sicknesses as Oropouche and Dengue fever, authorities have stated.
Frequent energy outages imply many sleep with home windows open throughout the sizzling Caribbean summer time, and few Cubans have entry to insect repellent.
Trash heaps have grown in dimension on road corners, which, mixed with summer time rains, present ample breeding grounds for biting bugs, authorities stated.
There aren’t any particular remedies or vaccines obtainable for Oropouche.