In the wake of the state fumigation program's disappearance across numerous Cuban neighborhoods, a young woman has turned to social media to showcase her homemade solution for mosquito and dengue prevention.
In a video posted on Instagram, a user named Betty illustrates her nightly ritual of lighting egg cartons in her living room, kitchen, and bedroom, allowing them to smolder briefly before extinguishing them and placing them around her home. "Remember when fumigation was a routine part of our city's life? Now, it’s almost nonexistent. Without professional fumigation, mosquitoes are rampant, leading to widespread cases of dengue and other diseases," Betty explains in the video.
Her routine, performed each night before bed, includes positioning the smoky cartons under her bed. She cautions against bringing ignited cartons indoors: "You need to put them out as soon as they start smoking."
Betty's final words echo the sentiment of many Cubans feeling neglected by the state: "Mosquitoes are everywhere, but with some ingenuity, we can protect ourselves. Don’t wait for anyone to fumigate; take action yourself, because that's no longer a reality."
This video is not just an isolated incident. In 2025, Cuba faced one of its most severe arbovirus outbreaks in decades. The Pan American Health Organization reported 81,909 cases of dengue and chikungunya, with 65 fatalities, over half of them children.
The government itself has admitted to its shortcomings. In November 2025, Deputy Minister of Public Health Carilda Peña García acknowledged the failure to execute the fumigation and focal control plans in provinces like Havana and Camagüey, going so far as to suggest burning citrus peels as a mosquito deterrent, citing the need to "resort to anything."
The collapse of the fumigation system, once among the most robust in Latin America, has been blamed on fuel shortages, insecticide deficits, and deteriorating nebulization equipment.
Reports from Sancti Spíritus in November 2025 described a near-total absence of fumigation efforts for months, with mosquitoes even invading hospitals.
However, the practice of burning egg cartons lacks scientific validation. Biologist Romina Barrozo told Infobae that there is "no scientific evidence" supporting its effectiveness and warned that the smoke "can be toxic to humans." The Argentinian Ministry of Health also debunked the method, stating that "there is no scientific study that supports this claim."
Experts caution that the smoke "does not kill mosquitoes or disrupt their breeding cycle, merely temporarily dispersing them," while releasing particles that can irritate respiratory pathways.
By January 2026, more than 2,800 active chikungunya cases persisted across 134 municipalities, affecting all 14 provinces, indicating the ongoing epidemiological crisis as the regime's healthcare infrastructure remains in disrepair.
Understanding the Dengue Crisis in Cuba
What alternative methods are being used in Cuba to combat mosquitoes?
Due to the lack of state fumigation, individuals like Betty are turning to homemade methods such as burning egg cartons and citrus peels, though these lack scientific backing.
Why did Cuba's fumigation program fail?
The program's collapse is attributed to shortages of fuel and insecticides, as well as the deterioration of fumigation equipment.
Is burning egg cartons effective against mosquitoes?
There is no scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of burning egg cartons in repelling mosquitoes, and the smoke can be harmful to humans.