Several players from the Granma Alazanes baseball team have fallen ill, prompting the suspension of their upcoming National Series games amid Cuba's ongoing health crisis.
"There will be no games today or tomorrow at the Nelson Fernández Stadium. Several Granma athletes are sick, including all three of the team's catchers. The matches will take place after the end of the qualifying stage," announced official journalist Wilber Pastrana on Saturday.
Granma was set to face the Mayabeque Hurricanes in the continuation of their series, but more games might need to be postponed.
"There is consideration for Granma to return to their province. If the situation doesn't improve, they won't be traveling to the Isla de la Juventud. The health of the players is always the top priority," Pastrana added.
These cancellations add to those already caused by Hurricane Melissa's impact.
Health Crisis in Cuba
This week, the Deputy Minister of Public Health, Carilda Peña García, confirmed to national media that Cuba has officially reported 20,062 cases of chikungunya, along with a high incidence of dengue and other arboviral diseases.
The report, broadcast by the state media, highlighted that the most affected provinces are Havana, Camagüey, Cienfuegos, Artemisa, and Villa Clara, where confirmed cases are concentrated.
However, the figures acknowledged by the Ministry of Health (MINSAP) differ from reports flooding social media daily, where residents describe entire neighborhoods and families falling ill and criticize the lack of medical care and medications.
"The concentration of the Aedes aegypti mosquito is very high," the official acknowledged, pointing out that 62% of the mosquito breeding sites are located in Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Camagüey, and Villa Clara, indicating a sustained inefficiency in control efforts.
She added that an "active search for febrile cases" continues with the support of medical science students, while nine provinces are conducting intensive fumigations, although there are complaints that this treatment has become a business opportunity for local officials.
Despite the official narrative, the public perception is different: in numerous municipalities, citizens complain about irregular fumigation, the lack of doctors and basic supplies, and many avoid hospitals due to medicine shortages or overwhelmed services.
The Deputy Minister also announced upcoming clinical trials in Matanzas for the use of the immunoregulatory peptide Juzvinza in treating chronic chikungunya symptoms and mentioned the "international solidarity" received by the healthcare system.
Nevertheless, the gap between the official message and the reality experienced by the population remains vast.
In a country where epidemic outbreaks spread rapidly and access to medicines is limited, Cubans face arboviral diseases with few resources, little trust in institutions, and often without medical care.
What the Deputy Minister conveniently omits is the abundance of improvisation stories on social media.
Many individuals, for instance, are turning to natural remedies, such as using papaya leaves, to combat diseases like chikungunya, a viral infection that causes high fever, severe joint pain, and general weakness.
The regime officially acknowledged three dengue-related deaths in October. However, according to social media reports, this number might be higher, with some deaths attributed to other illnesses.
Understanding Cuba's Health Crisis
What caused the suspension of Granma's baseball games?
The games were suspended because several Granma players fell ill amid Cuba's health crisis.
How many chikungunya cases has Cuba reported?
Cuba has officially reported 20,062 cases of chikungunya.
Which provinces in Cuba are most affected by the health crisis?
The most affected provinces are Havana, Camagüey, Cienfuegos, Artemisa, and Villa Clara.
What measures is Cuba taking to combat the health crisis?
Cuba is conducting intensive fumigations and an active search for febrile cases with the help of medical science students.