The Cuban content creator Ari de La Habana (@ari_delahabana), renowned for her reviews of local spots in Havana, has taken to Instagram to deliver a poignant message about the severity of the current arboviral outbreak devastating the nation.
In a heartfelt video recorded from La Piragua in Vedado, Ari disclosed that her grandfather succumbed to complications from chikungunya. She urged Cubans to "take care of themselves and protect the elderly and children," while sharply criticizing the continued influx of foreign tourists during this health crisis.
"The virus is indeed lethal. Just two days ago, my grandfather passed away at Fajardo Hospital due to complications from the virus. He was 82, but he couldn't withstand it," she recounted, visibly emotional.
Ari, who is a mother of two young daughters, emphasized that hospitals are overwhelmed and mentioned that "many children are in critical condition." This aligns with recent official figures from the Ministry of Public Health, which reported the hospitalization of 34 children in severe or critical condition due to chikungunya.
She urged families to use repellent, cover children, and avoid mosquito exposure. At the same time, she pointed out the contradiction of seeing buses full of tourists while the country battles an uncontrolled epidemic.
"I saw a bunch of foreigners getting off two buses. Why are they coming to Cuba? To get sick? This is not a joke. They should wait, because there's a virus killing people here," she warned.
The video has gone viral on social media, becoming one of the most powerful citizen denunciations in recent weeks. Ari's testimony adds to hundreds of spontaneous reports about deaths, medicine shortages, and medical negligence that the regime fails to acknowledge officially.
Meanwhile, the leader Miguel Díaz-Canel continues to project an image of control and scientific management, with televised meetings from the Palace discussing "protocols" and "follow-up actions," yet without releasing concrete data, budgets, or results.
The latest of these meetings, held on November 20, did not announce any substantial measures: only references to "clinical studies" by the Pedro Kourí Institute and promises to "improve the Cuban chikungunya protocol." There was no mention of insecticide shortages, outbreaks in schools, or hospital collapses.
The crisis has reached unprecedented levels. According to the Pan American Health Organization, Cuba has the highest chikungunya rate in the continent, with over 20,000 confirmed infections as of early November.
The simultaneous spread of dengue and oropouche has pushed the healthcare system to its most critical point in decades.
Despite this, the Ministry of Tourism continues to allow international flights and cruises without health warnings to travelers or entry restrictions to the most affected areas.
For many Cubans, the sight of tourists strolling along the Malecón while hospitals lack antibiotics and children are admitted with high fevers symbolizes the total disconnect between the regime and reality.
The personal grief of a young woman from Havana has thus become a collective voice. Ari speaks not just for her grandfather, but for an entire nation that feels sick, abandoned, and deceived.
As the Cuban regime continues to manipulate figures and hold unproductive meetings, the truth emerges on social media, in neighborhoods, and in morgues: Cuba is facing a silent killer epidemic, while the government turns a blind eye.
Understanding the Health Crisis in Cuba
What virus is contributing to the health crisis in Cuba?
The chikungunya virus is significantly contributing to the health crisis in Cuba, with thousands of confirmed infections and a high rate on the continent.
How is the Cuban government responding to the outbreak?
The Cuban government is projecting an image of control by discussing protocols and follow-up actions in televised meetings but has not provided concrete data or results to address the outbreak effectively.
Is tourism still active in Cuba despite the epidemic?
Yes, the Ministry of Tourism continues to allow international flights and cruises without health warnings or entry restrictions to the most affected areas, despite the ongoing epidemic.