Cases of Dengue in the Cuban Military School

Cases of Dengue in the Cuban Military School / Ignacio Estrada
Translator: M. Ouellette, Wendy Iriepa and Ignacio Estrada

By Ignacio Estrada Cepero, Independent Journalist

Havana, Cuba. In recent days, the "José Martí" Military Polytechnic
Institute (IPM, ex-Belén College), located in the capital municipality
of Marianao, has had to increase medical attention in the military
infirmary due to the appearance of constant cases of fever.

According to information not published by any medical official, the
military school is keeping a total of 54 cases isolated from the rest of
the students. It is unknown how many of these patients have been
diagnosed positive for Dengue through the known laboratory IgM test.

Students of this military school confirm the existence of the sickness,
but are afraid to speak of its presence at the institute for fear of
retaliation by their superiors.

The military school is located in a marshy area, and thick underbrush
surrounds its sides. Besides the presence of tunnels and an old rail
line trench, there are other places prone to the appearance of sources
of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, the transmitting agent of this sickness.

The "José Martí" Military Polytechnic Institute has a student body of
around 5000 boarders, in addition to a small number of youth from the
General Obligatory Military Service (SMGO), these last destined for work
at the center.

Translated by: M. Ouellette

October 8 2012

http://translatingcuba.com/cases-of-dengue-in-the-cuban-military-school-ignacio-estrada/