Carmelo Trujillo Machado, head of the International Health Control Department at the Ministry of Public Health, declared on Saturday that Cuba's governmental structures are operational, placing the blame for the spread of the Aedes aegypti mosquito on the citizens.
Amidst the ongoing health crisis on the island, the official stated on national television, "All measures outlined in a program for controlling arbovirosis have been implemented and are functioning effectively."
"The entire governmental framework operates from the central level, supported by all governmental and political structures down to the grassroots, specifically, the popular councils and health areas," Trujillo Machado added.
Despite boasting about an obviously inefficient governmental management in a country on the brink of collapse, Trujillo Machado emphasized that "intensive efforts are currently being made in health promotion and education, stressing the need for the population to understand how to eliminate the vector."
"We need to reach a point where our population takes action. Today, where does the Aedes aegypti mosquito live? It is with us, inside our homes," he mentioned.
On Friday, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez claimed that the Cuban government's actions are "yielding results" against the arbovirosis epidemic affecting Cuba.
"In a meeting with experts and scientists, mathematical models were presented indicating the containment of the arbovirosis epidemic in the country. The measures are bearing fruit, and we will not let our guard down. We continue with the work system we have implemented," the leader wrote.
The publication sparked critical responses, including one from a user who commented, "Those experts and scientists need to create a model that shows how much longer this life you've imposed on Cubans will last. How long will this existence continue? I need that mathematical-scientific model or a fortune teller or Nostradamus."
Díaz-Canel’s statement followed a meeting held on the afternoon of December 24 with scientists and health system experts at the Palace of the Revolution, where he was informed that cases of dengue and chikungunya are showing a downward trend.
MINSAP experts claim that Cuba has seen eight consecutive weeks of reduced arbovirosis diagnoses. However, most provinces, except for Matanzas, Granma, and the Isle of Youth, remain within the epidemic's endemic corridor.
Mathematician Raúl Guinovart Díaz indicated that the forecast models "point to an improving trend" and estimated that the situation might be controlled between January and February, provided environmental conditions remain unchanged.
Despite the optimism, the data from the meeting confirmed that over 2,800 cases of chikungunya persist across 134 municipalities, with incidence rates above the national average in provinces such as Guantánamo, Las Tunas, Santiago de Cuba, Pinar del Río, and Artemisa.
Understanding the Arbovirosis Situation in Cuba
What measures has the Cuban government implemented to control arbovirosis?
The Cuban government has implemented a program designed to control arbovirosis, which includes health promotion and education campaigns to inform the population about eliminating the Aedes aegypti mosquito vector.
How are the arbovirosis cases trending in Cuba?
According to MINSAP experts, Cuba has experienced eight consecutive weeks of declining arbovirosis diagnoses, although most provinces remain within the endemic corridor.
What is the forecast for the arbovirosis situation in Cuba?
Mathematician Raúl Guinovart Díaz predicts that the arbovirosis situation might be controlled between January and February, assuming stable environmental conditions.