The Cuban Ministry of Public Health (Minsap) has acknowledged a widespread increase in acute respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, hepatitis, and arboviruses, all occurring against the backdrop of the nation's struggling healthcare infrastructure.
Speaking on the television program Buenos Días, and quoted by the official newspaper Granma, Deputy Minister of Public Health, Carilda Peña García, highlighted these illnesses as a major concern for health authorities.
The spread of diarrheal diseases and hepatitis, according to the deputy minister, is due to "limitations in environmental sanitation systems, water treatment, and waste collection," implicitly admitting the shortcomings in public services managed by state-run entities.
Regarding arboviruses, Peña confirmed that dengue continues to circulate actively with all four serotypes of the virus present, most notably serotype two, emphasizing that "Cuba is an endemic country."
While confirming the presence of chikungunya, she dismissed rumors of an "excessive increase" that have circulated on social media.
Independent data contrasts with Minsap's moderate tone. According to the Global Dengue Observatory of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Cuba has reported 7,133 dengue cases this year, which is 7.4 times higher than expected for this period.
August saw the highest numbers, with an estimated 3,214 cases. The seasonal peak typically occurs in October, suggesting a potential worsening in the coming weeks, according to the observatory's analysis.
The crisis extends beyond dengue. In early September, the United States Embassy in Havana issued a health alert due to a significant rise in diarrheal diseases across the island, citing pathogens like E. coli, norovirus, and Shigella, and linking the risk to the collapse of water and energy infrastructure.
That same alert reported hepatitis A outbreaks in at least six provinces: Matanzas, Camagüey, Pinar del Río, Ciego de Ávila, Santiago de Cuba, and Havana.
In Holguín, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) recently donated 50 fumigation machines to combat Aedes aegypti in the province's 14 municipalities, amid worsening conditions due to uncollected garbage increasing breeding grounds for the mosquito.
In Guantánamo, the municipality of Manuel Tames has been declared under epidemiological alert with 23 weekly febrile cases reported, while the municipalities of Imías, Baracoa, and the city of Guantánamo have continued active dengue transmission with more than 30 PCR-confirmed cases.
In April, PAHO noted that shortages of fuel, rodenticides, medications, and operational supplies are hindering environmental sanitation and vector control in Cuba, issues that Deputy Minister Peña described as "preventable and controllable," yet these challenges reflect a systemic deterioration that the regime has yet to address.
Understanding the Health Challenges in Cuba
What are the main diseases currently affecting Cuba?
Cuba is currently facing a surge in acute respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, hepatitis, and arboviruses, including dengue and chikungunya.
How has the infrastructure contributed to the health issues in Cuba?
The deterioration of environmental sanitation systems, water treatment, and waste collection has contributed significantly to the spread of diseases like diarrhea and hepatitis.
What actions are being taken to combat the dengue outbreak in Cuba?
Efforts include donations like 50 fumigation machines from PAHO to target mosquito breeding grounds and control the spread of Aedes aegypti.