Cuba News

Growing Outrage in Cuba as Dengue & Chikungunya Crisis Claims 33 Lives, Including 21 Children, Fuels Accusations of Official Misrepresentation

Havana, Cuba – December 2, 2025 – A rising tide of public anger is sweeping across cuba as the nation grapples with a severe outbreak of dengue and chikungunya, now confirmed to have caused 33 deaths, tragically including 21 minors, according to official figures released Monday. The escalating health crisis, marked by overflowing hospitals, critical medicine shortages, and deteriorating sanitary conditions, is sparking widespread accusations that the government is downplaying the severity of the situation and failing to adequately address the needs of its citizens.

The stark reality on the ground sharply contrasts with official narratives, leading many Cubans to openly question the credibility of state media and institutions. A statement from a vice minister attempting to address the crisis during a televised appearance on Caribbean Channel has instead fueled the growing discontent.

“How long are you going to continue lying and laughing at the people?” is a sentiment echoing across social media platforms, reflecting a deep-seated frustration with the perceived disconnect between official pronouncements and the lived experiences of ordinary Cubans. Users are reporting an inability to access even basic medications like painkillers (duralgin) and antibiotics, alongside a desperate lack of available hospital beds.

The crisis is compounded by a documented lack of resources within the healthcare system. reports indicate doctors are struggling to provide care “without medications and no equipment,” as highlighted in recent coverage. The situation is further exacerbated by a shortage of insecticides,broken focal treatment machines,and a decline in the number of workers dedicated to mosquito control – problems the vice minister herself acknowledged.

Recent data paints a grim picture. In the week leading up to November 28th, Cuba registered 5,717 new cases of chikungunya, many diagnosed based on clinical criteria alone due to a lack of necessary reagents and PCR testing capabilities.The national cumulative total now stands at nearly 39,000 patients, with high infestation rates of the Aedes aegypti mosquito persisting in provinces including Camagüey, Pinar del Río, Santiago de Cuba, Sancti Spíritus, and Havana.

The disproportionate impact on children – with over 63% of the fatalities being minors – is notably fueling outrage, with many demanding respect for the lives lost and calling for clarity regarding the true scale of the collapse within the healthcare system.

This outbreak underscores long-standing challenges within Cuba’s public health infrastructure, including resource constraints and systemic issues impacting preventative measures. while authorities maintain that “in Cuba everything is done to save lives,” a growing number of citizens believe this claim is increasingly detached from the daily realities of a nation battling a preventable epidemic. The widening gap between official rhetoric and the experiences of the Cuban people threatens to further erode trust in institutions already strained by economic hardship and political limitations.