Cuba Faces Escalating Health Crisis with Chikungunya Epidemic โ& Concurrent Dengue Cases
havana, cuba -โ Cuban health officials have officially declared a nationwide โข chikungunya epidemic, โฃas the mosquito-borneโค virus spreads rapidly across the island. Dr. Francisco Durรกn Garcรญa, National Directorโข of Epidemiologyโ at the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP), reportedโฃ on Friday that 31,513 suspected cases of chikungunya have been diagnosed.
The virus,transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito – the same vector responsibleโฃ for dengue fever – is currently active in 14 of Cuba’s 15 provinces,affecting 99 municipalities and 164 health areas. Dr. โDurรกn characterized this widespread presence as “sustained epidemic behavior.”
Adding too the public health challenge, Cuba is simultaneously experiencing a meaningful number of dengue cases. โฃ The latestโ reportsโฃ indicate 847 confirmed casesโ ofโ dengue alongside โthe 753 new suspected chikungunya cases reported on โthe same day. While dengue is considered to have an endemic presence – meaning consistently present but stable – the concurrent outbreaks are โstraining resources.
Currently, 5,713 patients โขare hospitalized with suspectedโ chikungunya, with the vast โmajority (5,607) receiving care at home. However, aโ concerning 95 patients are in intensive care, with 77 in serious โconditionโ and 18 criticallyโฃ ill. โขAโ especially vulnerable population is being impacted, as โ 63 of the seriously ill patients and 16 ofโฃ the critically ill are children underโ the age of 18.
Officials attribute the rapid spread to a high mosquito infestation rate of 0.73, which Dr. Durรกn described as a “high risk of transmission.” The provinces of โCamagรผey, Pinar del โRรญo, Sancti Spรญritus, and Villa Clara are reporting the highest infestation rates.
The response to the outbreak is hampered by logistical challenges within the public health system.Dr. Durรกn acknowledged limitations in fumigation efforts, citing that 142โฃ teams were unable to operate the previous day โฃ- 109 due toโ personnel shortages and 33 due to equipment breakdowns. Moreover, he stated โฃthat no extra-domiciliaryโ adulticidal treatments were conducted in Mayabeque, Matanzas, Camagรผey, Las Tunas, or the special municipality of Isla deโ la Juventud in recent days.
Health authorities are โurging citizens to prioritize preventative measures, including rigorous sanitation practices in homes and workplaces, and to seek immediate medical attention if โคexperiencing symptoms such as prolonged fever, dehydration, or loss of consciousness.While chikungunya infection typically confers lifelong immunity, officials warn that it can led toโข lasting health complications and symptom recurrence. Currently, no vaccine exists to prevent chikungunya.
Despite acknowledging โฃthe “very complex”โ situation, Dr. Durรกn โฃaffirmed that the health system โis workingโ to address the crisis โฃ”to the โคextent possible.” However, โคpublic concern remainsโค high, withโฃ citizens expressing frustration over the perceived delayed response and the pre-existing โstrains on Cuba’s healthcare infrastructure.