cuba Faces Escalating Dengue,Chikungunya,and Oropouche fever Crisis as Resources Dwindle
HAVANA,Cuba – prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz has pledged to “find solutions” as Cuba grapples with a rapidly expanding outbreak of dengue,chikungunya,and Oropouche fever,currently circulating simultaneously in at least a dozen provinces,according to the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP). The situation is compounded by critical shortages of essential resources needed to combat the spread of the mosquito-borne illnesses.
In ciego de Ávila province, local authorities have confirmed active transmission of dengue in the municipalities of Morón and the provincial capital, reporting a sustained increase in febrile cases and high mosquito infestation levels.
The crisis has exposed severe limitations within the Cuban healthcare system. Vice Minister Carilda Pena recently admitted a lack of sufficient fuel for widespread fumigation efforts, instead recommending citizens “burn citrus peels” as a home remedy to deter mosquitoes – a suggestion met with widespread criticism on social media.Reports indicate hospitals are also facing shortages of medicines, insecticides, and medical personnel.
The Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine (IPK) attributes the surge in cases to favorable environmental conditions, including heat, rainfall, garbage accumulation, and deficiencies in the water supply.Dr. Maria Guadalupe Guzman,head of the IPK Research Center,stated that dengue and chikungunya are currently the most prevalent viral diseases in Cuba,highlighting the population’s vulnerability to rapid vector-borne transmission.
On-the-ground reports paint a grim picture. Residents of Ciro Redondo,in Ciego de Ávila,report stagnant,larvae-filled waters persisting for over a month with no intervention from authorities or the water utility. Pediatric hospitals in Havana and Camagüey are reportedly overcrowded, lacking adequate medical care and maintaining unsanitary conditions.
MINSAP has officially reported three deaths from dengue in Cuba this year. Despite the rising infection rates and confirmed fatalities, the government maintains a narrative of “resistance and control.”
Marrero’s call for “discipline, the work of the cadres and the ‘fighting spirit'” contrasts sharply with the realities faced by many Cubans, who express skepticism that solutions are possible “without resources.”
