Cuba Launches Chikungunya Response Amid Rising Citizen Concerns
HAVANA – Cuban authorities have announced a new initiative to combat the spread of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne viral disease, following months of escalating public complaints about the country’s handling of the outbreak. The response, detailed by officials including Morales Suárez, focuses on three key objectives: reducing mosquito infestation rates, improving clinical treatment for the disease, and mitigating long-term health consequences for those who have recovered.
the announcement comes as frustration mounts among Cuban citizens who report a lack of access to medication and inadequate public health infrastructure. Kenya Tumbarell Tamayo, known online as “Lola La Negrita Cuban,” voiced the growing desperation in a recent TikTok video, questioning why officials haven’t acknowledged the severity of the situation and the scarcity of essential medicines. ”When are they going to say that this virus, that this pandemic, is killing people?” she asked, visibly distressed. “When are they going to recognize that there are no medications?”
According to officials, the new strategy aims to “take advantage of the valuable experiences” gained during the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan centers on controlling the Aedes aegypti mosquito vector, refining treatment protocols, and addressing the lasting effects of the illness in recovered patients.
However, Tumbarell’s concerns echo widespread criticism regarding systemic issues contributing to the outbreak, including inadequate sanitation and pervasive standing water that fuels mosquito proliferation. “when are they going to say that these things would have been avoided if there weren’t so many sewers, if there wasn’t so much dirt, if the mosquitoes hadn’t proliferated so much?” she demanded.
Tumbarell concluded her plea with a stark warning, questioning the government’s willingness to seek assistance and lamenting the impact on ordinary Cubans.”Cuba only hurts, to us Cubans, to those on foot, who can’t take it anymore,” she stated. The effectiveness of the newly announced measures remains to be seen, but the public outcry underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive and transparent response to the chikungunya crisis.