Former Güines' City Hall, at the corner of Máximo Gómez and Clemente Fernández Streets. Photo by Teresa Fernández Montero, Arucas, Grand Canary, Canary Islands, Spain, February 2003

Current appearance of the Kate Plumer Bryan Memorial school (American School), Güines. Photo by Teresa Fernández Montero, Arucas, Grand Canary, Canary Islands, Spain, February 2003

Alarm in Güines Over Hepatitis' Surge

By José Izquierdo, Grupo Decoro (Decorum Group)

Güines, February 12, 2003 (www.cubanet.org) - Around 500 persons with symptomatology similar to hepatitis type “C” or viral were treated during the week of February 2 to February 9, in Güines, a municipality in Havana Province,at Aleida Fernández's Hospital and other health centers.

Medical sources affirmed that the majority of those affected reached the municipality’s health centers, with strong abdominal pains, vomiting and diarrhea, telltale symptoms of the aforementioned liver disease.

“The vast majority of those treated had tested positive for the transaminase test so we are sure that we are facing a new surge of viral hepatitis”, said one of the physicians on duty at Aleida Fernández's Hospital.

It could be ascertained that there is some suspicion about the origins of the epidemic, because of the high level of contamination at water sources located in Catalina de Güines' town, which are contributing to the spread of parasitic and stomach diseases.

Güines was hit in 2001 with an intense surge of type “C” hepatitis, a fact that compelled the sanitary authorities to decree a state of emergency, ordering the immediate closure of all state and private gastronomic units.