Residents of Old Havana have reported that numerous families have fallen ill with chikungunya, while authorities acknowledge a "critical" situation and intensify fogging efforts in various areas without providing clear statistics on the outbreak.
Currently, this district in the capital city is among those at highest epidemiological risk due to chikungunya transmission.
Rapid Spread Among Families
Accounts from Canal Caribe highlight the alarming speed at which the virus has spread among entire families. Lorenza Núñez, a local resident, shared her experience, saying, "It started with joint pain… then I got sick, followed by my son-in-law, daughter, grandchild, and even the youngest in the family," as she continues to struggle with lingering symptoms that affect her mobility.
Efforts to Combat the Outbreak
Healthcare workers have noted a surge in fever cases, prompting the deployment of fumigation brigades and targeted screenings in the most affected blocks. These areas are identified based on "fever movements," as explained by an anti-vector campaign worker, who emphasized the importance of residents reporting every case to mobilize response teams. Without this information, he warned, "they can't send the fogging teams."
Dr. Magdiel Molina, who is also recovering from chikungunya, pointed out the disease's significant temporary disability and stressed the need for medical attention at the first signs of symptoms.
Lack of Transparency and Data
Authorities have put protocols in place for vulnerable groups, including hospitalization for young children and pregnant women, and special monitoring for elderly individuals, many of whom live alone.
Similar conditions are reported in other municipalities. In Marianao, officials from the Ministry of Public Health (Minsap) recently admitted that "exact case numbers are not being recorded," hindering the assessment of the outbreak's true extent. Despite claims of adulticide brigades, focal work, and neighborhood screenings, no data has been shared to assess their effectiveness.
Community Concerns Grow
As fogging focuses on neighborhoods with the highest fever reports, concerns mount over the lack of transparency. The absence of concrete data on infections and the outbreak's progression leaves the public without a clear understanding of the disease's seriousness, which continues to affect household after household.
According to Dr. Francisco Durán García, the national director of Epidemiology at Minsap, over 30% of Cubans have contracted chikungunya, which would mean nearly 3 million people on the island.
In various districts of the capital, residents complain about irregular fogging and persistent mosquito breeding sites in critical areas, worsened by waste accumulation, lack of potable water, and inadequate waste management.
Measures to Improve Waste Management
In response, Old Havana's government plans to implement a new system starting Monday, November 17, where residents and private businesses will be required to dispose of solid waste only when collection trucks pass by at a designated time after 7:00 p.m., preventing trash from being left on the streets.
The province of Holguín is experiencing marked epidemiological deterioration due to the circulation of chikungunya and dengue serotype four, amidst a rise in fever syndromes following Hurricane Melissa's impact.
Similarly, dengue and chikungunya cases have surged in Sancti Spíritus and Camagüey, where health authorities describe the increase as "exponential."
Understanding the Chikungunya Outbreak in Cuba
What is causing the rapid spread of chikungunya in Old Havana?
The rapid spread of chikungunya in Old Havana is attributed to high mosquito activity, insufficient fumigation efforts, and a lack of timely case reporting by residents.
How are authorities responding to the chikungunya outbreak?
Authorities are increasing fumigation and deploying health brigades to the most affected areas, although there is a lack of transparency and precise data on the outbreak's scale.
What measures are being taken to address environmental factors contributing to the outbreak?
The government plans to improve waste management by requiring residents to dispose of trash only during scheduled collections, reducing mosquito breeding grounds.