Although there are no reported cases in Cuba or Ciego de Ávila at the time this note is being written, the health system maintains epidemiological surveillance to detect in time and prevent the transmission of the so-called Acute Hepatitis in Children, Dr. José Luis López González, deputy director of Epidemiology of the Provincial Center of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology, said.

The specialist said that all hospital and polyclinic emergency services, as well as Pediatric consultations, received information and preparation on the protocol to follow and the symptoms associated with the rare disease, of unknown etiology until now, which has been detected in more than 20 countries in the world.

The symptoms are similar to those of the known variants of Hepatitis, although they progress in an accelerated manner, including early and acute onset jaundice, enlarged liver (hepatomegaly) and gastrointestinal disorders.

The designed protocol foresees, in possible cases, taking samples of urine, feces and nasopharyngeal exudate, and sending them to the Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine to carry out virological tests.

So far, there have not even been "frights" in Ciego de Ávila, Dr. López González declares.

In his usual Monday appearance before Cuban Television, Dr. Francisco Durán, National Director of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Public Health, had commented on the instructions given to the Cuban health system and its provincial, municipal and community structures.

As he explained, the use of the facemask should be maintained, since some cases studied in the world showed the presence of adenoviruses in blood, transmittable by the respiratory tract. Likewise, it is known that the Hepatitis virus is transmitted through saliva and contact with contaminated feces.

His recommendations follow what was published on May 3 by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), a text of questions and answers on severe acute hepatitis in children, in which it clarifies that the causes of this unusual disease are being investigated, since which is not related to known strains of Hepatitis virus.

The first cases were reported last April in the United Kingdom, but patients have already been detected in the United States and Mexico. Until May 10, 348 patients and a dozen deaths were recorded, the German agency DW reported.

Expert Dr. Leandro Soares Sereno, adviser for the prevention and control of viral hepatitis at PAHO, recommended that parents be attentive to symptoms, such as diarrhea or vomiting, and especially if there are signs of jaundice, which is the yellow coloration of the eyes and skin, prompt medical attention should be sought.

"For prevention, we recommend taking basic hygiene measures such as washing your hands, covering when cough or sneeze, all of which also serve to prevent the transmission of the adenovirus."