Havana, Sep 22.- Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero called on Thursday to increase actions to reduce the foci of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in the country.
On his Twitter account, the head of Government pointed out that the hygienic-sanitary situation, with the transmission of dengue, continues to be complex. ‘We will win this battle, just as we have done with COVID-19,’ he asserted.
At a meeting with experts and scientists with President Miguel Diaz-Canel, held on Wednesday, the director of Biomedical Research at the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Ph.D. Gerardo Guillen announced Cuba’s strategy to create a vaccine against dengue.
It is a joint project with the Pedro Kouri Tropical Medicine Institute (IPK) and the CIGB, and it is a research that dates back to 1992, an initiative from the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro.
The experts considered that it is a path that takes time, but it is increasingly viable in view of the solidity of the knowledge and achievements of Cuban specialists, who have gained great international prestige, according to the Presidency’s website.
Dengue is currently being transmitted in all 15 Cuban provinces and the Isla de la Juventud special municipality, Public Health Minister Jose Angel Portal informed, adding that the incidence rate of suspected cases increased by 2.5 percent last week compared to the previous week.
The infestation and disease rates show the importance of institutional, family and business responsibility in reducing the foci of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. (PL)