The Castro press reported that, after a religious activity in the old Angerona coffee plantation, an outbreak of histoplasmosis was detected in the area of the cisterns.
In the event there were 43 people who were exposed, of which 34 were infected, including seven children.
Raymundo Verde, Head of the Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Artemisa, reported that the religious activity took place on January 29, and the “study and control of the focus began on February 22, when those affected went to the hospital, before the start of the symptoms, such as headache, muscle pain, intermittent fever… that can appear between three and 17 days after exposure.
Histoplasmosis is an infectious disease that is produced by inhaling spores of the fungus, the causative agent histoplasma capsulatum, present in bat feces, and which can cause pneumonia that is very difficult to treat.
It is worth noting that, in the area of the cisterns or caves, where the event took place, there are old water deposits, suitable for the growth of this fungus, fertilized by the guano of the mammal and where the affected people had contact.
From the provincial capital “35 were exposed and 26 were infected (74.2%), nine were hospitalized, and the same number remain asymptomatic, under surveillance. Those admitted are receiving care at the San Cristóbal and Artemisa hospitals,” explained Verde.
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In this sense, measures were taken due to the disease, which include the use of the mask on the site, avoiding removing the soil with the presence of feces, avoiding entering the area of the caves as prevention, and in the case of the personnel who work in the place, moisten the walls with water and hypochlorite.
In an attempt to prevent residents from entering the area, Verde mentioned that “a yellow tape has already been placed (…) and it is coordinating with Flora and Fauna to proceed to permanently close the contaminated sites.”
The patients declared that they obtained the authorization to carry out this festival through Culture, although it would be more up to Heritage or Flora and Fauna.
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