In a high-level meeting presided over by the Provincial First Secretary of the Party, Mario Sabines Lorenzo, the Minister of Public Health, Dr. José Ángel Portal Miranda, clarified this Wednesday that the dengue and chikungunya diseases circulating in Matanzas "are neither new, nor rare, nor unknown," and categorically denied the existence of fatalities from these causes during the sustainability meeting for the capital municipality.

With the presence of Governor Marieta Poey Zamora and the Municipal First Secretary of the PCC, Yannara Concepción Domínguez, the head of MINSAP emphasized that "the first thing we must have is clarity about what is happening." He explained that the current situation is due to the high susceptibility of the population to diseases that had not circulated intensely for years, combined with the proliferation of mosquitoes due to tropical conditions and climate change.

Addressing rumors about a supposed unknown illness or high mortality, the Minister was very precise: "There are no deaths in Matanzas from this disease. There are no severe cases, there are no critical cases, and there are no deaths from this disease. No one can hide an epidemic or the dead."

He highlighted that from the first moment, the National Surveillance Center and the laboratories of the Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine identified the circulating viruses. "Everything we are saying has laboratory backing," he stated, underscoring that the diagnosis is primarily clinical and that active surveillance is maintained for other viruses like influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, while ruling out the circulation of SARS-CoV-2.

The Minister stressed that the main battle is "to confront the causes" and reduce the indices of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. He indicated that, although more human and material resources were available in the past, today's strategy is based on optimization and community participation.

"The participation of everyone is not just necessary, it is essential. No one can win this battle if each one of us does not play their corresponding role," he affirmed, calling for all institutions to keep their areas free of vector foci.

As part of the response, the Minister reported on the implementation of concrete actions, particularly in reinforcing additional hospitalization capacities, for which drug and supply resources are being mobilized.

The decision was made to incorporate Medical Sciences students into case detection and response efforts, a practice proven in previous campaigns. The network of polyclinics and family doctor's offices is also being strengthened, and rehabilitation room consultations will be opened for transient sequelae, while they work to reduce waiting times and streamline patient transfer systems.

The meeting identified the Playa, Versalles, and Milanés polyclinics as the most complex health areas, with dengue cases reported throughout the city. Dr. Aymara Rivero Leicea, General Director of Health in the capital municipality, reported that just over 4,000 daily screenings are being carried out with the support of students, sector workers, and the community, while extra-residential fumigation is guaranteed.

The provincial First Secretary of the Party, Mario Sabines Lorenzo, emphasized the need for "integrated work between organizations and companies, with great popular participation," prioritizing garbage collection and fixing water leaks. Furthermore, he indicated that a more attractive payment system should be designed to retain the workforce in Communal Services.

Yannara Concepción Domínguez, his municipal counterpart, called for a massive sanitation day this weekend, also in honor of the city's 332nd anniversary, and urged the mobilization of the population through mass organizations to increase screenings and community surveillance.

Minister Portal Miranda concluded with a call to convey security to the population: "We must convey to the people that we have not stopped knowing that we have problems, but that we are doing everything to save lives. And we must do that together."

He recognized the effort of health workers who, facing the same difficulties as the population, "are defending people's lives every day," and reaffirmed the commitment of the government and the health system to accompany Matanzas in this epidemiological response.