A nurse at the José Martí Pérez Children’s Hospital, in Sancti Spíritus, died from complications from dengue feverthe deceased’s colleague reported this Thursday.

“Carmen Ana, we are sorry for your passing. Today the pediatrician is grieving, feeling that he has left us with a huge void.”word in one facebook post a graduate of the Clinical Laboratory, Mercedes Valdés Parada.

The late nurse, whose surname is not disclosed, was loved and respected in her community because, according to Valdés, “a wonderful friend, a kind, noble and very professional person.”

Local radio station Radio Vitral’s page also echoed the sad news and shared laboratory worker publications. CyberCuba contacted several relatives of the deceased, but as of the time of writing this letter has not received a response.

Dozens of people expressed their condolences in comments and expressed regret at the passing of Carmen Ana who, they said, had worked for several years in the operating room of a children’s hospital.

“There are no words to describe how shocked I am at the loss of such a valuable colleague. He is a special human being.”said one health worker, while another expressed solidarity with the relatives of the deceased.

“EPD. My deepest condolences to family and friends, incredibly sad news, I seem to have seen it in the pediatric operating room,” she lamented.

Internet users, including health professionals, confirmed the cause of death and bemoaned the specter of the arbovirus in the country. “The damage caused by dengue fever is horrific. And sadly it seems to have gone berserk against the women, just a few days ago another woman from Cabaiguán had died. Very sad. EPD”, said a netizen.

Although he didn’t go into details, it’s likely he was referring to the nurse Nelly Sanchez Espinosaa worker at the Cabaiguán Maternity Hospital, in Sancti Spíritus, who died on September 15 from dengue fever, according to colleagues and relatives at the time.

One user commented that death and illness from dengue was unnecessary and he pointed out that it was due to lack of hygiene and fumigation to kill mosquitoes.

“Today there are very few countries where people have died from dengue fever and Cuba is an epidemic of a lack of respect and conscience for its people.”he added.

Coupled with the lack of updated information from the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP), the state press and local governments about the number of cases and deaths due to DHF in the country, as well as the low availability of reagents for making a diagnosis. time and resources to deal with the epidemic.

These factors lead to the perception of low risk in the population, the proliferation of dengue transmitting agents (Aedes aegypti mosquitoes) and the development of severe forms of the disease.

Despite official secrecy, reports and complaints on social networks indicate that at least 17 Cubans, including minors and health workers, have died from dengue fever since July to date.

At the end of September, the death of two girls in Guise, Province of Granma, where appropriate medical assistance arrived late. Also, in the municipality of Holguin Mayarí an 18 year old girl dies for the same reason.

A few days earlier, in a meeting with MINSAP authorities, experts and scientists, the Minister of Public Health, José ngel Portal Miranda, confirmed the transmission of the virus. in all provincesas well as increased infestations and suspicious cases.

On August 23, the Deputy Minister of Public Health, Carilda Peña, reported that active cases at that time stood at 11,634. That figure, according to those diagnosed in one week, is almost quadruple from 3,306 cases during the first six months of 2022.

Based on statistics and disease trends, the authorities announced that a wave of dengue fever is expected in October and November, exacerbated by the lack of an effective response to the epidemiological situation.

Concerns about an increase in dengue cases in Cuba have transcended national borders and the island is currently listed as a high health risk region. Countries like Spain, France, Italy and Canada imported cases of crocodiles have been reported, while authorities in the Republic of Ireland and the UK are warning their citizens about the risks of traveling there.