PAHO/WHO and MINSAP, tackling the Oropouche virus in Cuba

In May 2024, the Cuban Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) documented the initial outbreak of Oropouche virus (OROV) within the country, with 89 confirmed cases identified in the provinces of Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba. Since then, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) maintained close observation of the situation, engaging in close communication with Cuban health authorities to facilitate the implementation of effective response strategies. More recently, a technical support mission was conducted by MINSAP, in conjunction with experts from PAHO’s Departments of Health Emergencies and Communicable Diseases and other relevant stakeholders on the ground. The mission had three objectives: to assess the current situation regarding the OROV in Cuba; to identify areas for improvement in terms of response and control; and to propose research initiatives. Following the mission, several key recommendations were made. The need for sustained research to deepen understanding of OROV in Cuba and facilitate a broader understanding of the disease in the Americas was identified. This is crucial given the recent increase in documented cases of OROV fever in some regional areas. Cuba has made progress on the mission’s recommendations, including two epidemiology projects.