The province of Matanzas is facing a severe health crisis due to the spread of dengue and chikungunya. Local authorities are hoping for a natural improvement with the arrival of winter, which they believe will "naturally limit" the proliferation of the mosquito responsible for transmission.
The official newspaper Girón reported on Tuesday via Facebook that during a meeting led by Mario Sabines Lorenzo, the first secretary of the Communist Party in Matanzas, the provincial government evaluated its ongoing efforts to combat mosquito-borne illnesses, known as arboviruses. They emphasized the need to "enhance the working system" to reduce infections.
According to official sources, dengue transmission remains high throughout the main municipality, with critical hotspots identified in the areas of Versalles, La Playa, and Matanzas Oeste, where intensive fumigation efforts were undertaken over the weekend.
Dr. Andrés Lamas Acevedo, the provincial director of Hygiene, Epidemiology, and Microbiology, informed Girón that the province has been reinforced with 28 additional fumigation machines, with 30 more expected. These resources are concentrated in Matanzas and Cárdenas, the most densely populated and affected regions.
Efforts and Resources in Crisis Management
"The fumigation strategy targets areas where dengue is present, as it is the disease that poses a mortal threat," explained Dr. Lamas. He confirmed that dengue serotypes 3 and 4 are circulating simultaneously in the province, which could worsen the epidemiological situation.
Despite the outbreak's severity, Public Health officials assured that the provincial children's hospital is not overwhelmed, with over 30 beds available, plus an additional 70 set up in an extension at the University of Medical Sciences.
The report highlighted that other regional hospitals "maintain adequate conditions" for medical care, although healthcare workers and patients' families have reported shortages of medications, reagents, and basic necessities in several healthcare facilities.
Winter's Role in Disease Control
Dr. Lamas suggested that the situation might begin to improve by the end of October, as cooler temperatures should reduce the reproduction rate of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Nonetheless, the government seems to rely more on climate change than on the effectiveness of its own measures, following years of failures in vector control, poor fumigation, and inadequate epidemiological surveillance.
Meanwhile, Sabines emphasized that the main goals are to "eliminate mosquito proliferation risks and maintain adulticidal treatment." He stressed the need for "greater public engagement" to sustain sanitation efforts amid the ongoing economic crisis.
As part of the strategy, authorities have decided to bolster active case finding with medical students and mobilize grassroots organizations, workplaces, and unions to support fumigation and micro-dump cleaning efforts. This approach repeats past strategies used during previous epidemic outbreaks, yet without sustainable results.
Challenges and Public Discontent
The meeting concluded with an acknowledgment that the province has a "clear strategy" and necessary resources. However, official data contradicts this claim: persistent hotspots, the simultaneous circulation of two serotypes, and an increase in febrile patients indicate a situation spiraling out of control.
The health crisis in Matanzas highlights the structural fragility of the Cuban healthcare system, which is beleaguered by the exodus of doctors, a lack of supplies, and hospital shortages. In neighborhoods like Versalles and La Playa, residents report mosquito-infested streets, accumulated garbage, and stagnant water, while the regime continues to deny the true extent of the epidemic.
The epidemiological situation in Matanzas has deteriorated rapidly, with entire populations reporting symptoms compatible with chikungunya amid an unprecedented spread of the virus. The gravity of the situation was underscored by the death of a young woman from Cárdenas due to hemorrhagic dengue, a case that shocked the medical community and reignited criticism of the government's health management.
Despite severe symptoms, the young woman did not receive timely and adequate treatment amid a context of hospital collapse and essential medication shortages. Days earlier, health authorities themselves acknowledged high viral circulation of dengue in several municipalities, including Matanzas, Cárdenas, and Jagüey Grande. However, in a stance disconnected from on-the-ground reality, the Minister of Public Health publicly denied the existence of deaths linked to the outbreak and downplayed its impact, claiming "everything was under control."
Understanding the Health Crisis in Matanzas
What are the main diseases causing the health crisis in Matanzas?
The main diseases causing the health crisis in Matanzas are dengue and chikungunya, both transmitted by mosquitoes.
How is the government of Matanzas addressing the outbreak?
The government is emphasizing fumigation efforts, mobilizing medical students, and relying on public participation to combat mosquito proliferation.
What challenges does the healthcare system in Matanzas face?
The healthcare system in Matanzas struggles with a shortage of supplies, inadequate hospital facilities, and the loss of medical professionals.
Why is winter seen as a potential solution for the outbreak?
Winter is expected to bring cooler temperatures, which naturally reduce the breeding rate of the Aedes aegypti mosquito responsible for transmitting the diseases.