Cuba Faces Renewed Arbovirus Surge Amidst mosquito Infestationโฃ & Resource Challenges
HAVANA – Cuba is โคexperiencingโ a significant resurgence of โขarboviralโฃ diseases – dengue and chikungunya – fueled by a “very โฃhigh” infestation of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and compoundedโ byโค ongoingโ supplyโค shortages and sanitation issues, healthโ officials warn. The outbreak is placing a particular strainโฃ on โvulnerable populations, including children โฃand pregnant women.
The โescalating โsituation comes as the country grapples wiht the โขaftermath of Hurricane Melissa, wich exacerbated existing water supply problems in severalโข provinces. โThese disruptions are leading โคto increased reliance on โhome water storage, creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes alongside deficiencies in waste management and sanitation. Asโ of last week, authorities reported 21,681 accumulated cases of chikungunya. Data from the Pan Americanโข Health โคOrganization โ(PAHO) indicates 9,602 โconfirmed dengueโ cases,โค representing an โincidence rate of 87.79 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The Ministry of Health estimates that โฃapproximately 30% ofโ the Cuban population has been infected withโ either dengue โฃor chikungunyaโ during this outbreak.
“It isโฃ key to keep โขchildren โhydrated, since gastrointestinal โsymptoms can cause hazardous dehydration,” cautioned Montesino Felipe, highlighting the criticalโ need for basic โขpreventative care. The challengeโค lies inโ securing adequate supplies amidstโ theโฃ current logistical difficulties. Marรญa Guadalupe Guzmรกn Tirado, director of the โฃResearch,โ Diagnostic and Reference Center of the Pedro Kourรญโ Institute (IPK), emphasized the risk posed by the proliferation โคof water tanks combined with “inadequate management of solid waste and deficiencies in sanitation.”
Pregnant women are also identified as a high-risk group, requiring โurgent hospitalization for diagnosisโ and treatment,โข especially those with pre-existing โฃconditions like hypertension โคor โdiabetes. “You can’t make a diagnosis at home. That has to be done by the hospital,” stated Diana Couto Nรบรฑez, presidentโ of โthe Cuban Society of Gynecologyโฃ and Obstetrics, warning of possibly serious complications.
The situation underscores the ongoing public health challenges facing Cuba, where access to resourcesโ and adequate sanitation remain critical factors in controlling the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses. โFurther data andโ analysis โคon dengue are available from the Pan American health Organization and previousโค reporting on the outbreak can be found here.