Cuba Struggles with Chikungunya and Dengue Outbreak

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

Cuba is experiencing a significant public health crisis, with authorities reporting 33 deaths—21 of which are children—linked to chikungunya and dengue since July. This outbreak has traversed all 15 provinces, escalating the strain on a healthcare system already burdened by the ongoing economic crisis.

Most deaths have been attributed to chikungunya, a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes that causes severe fever and joint pain. Dengue, characterized by high fever and flu-like symptoms, has contributed to 12 fatalities. The outbreak initiated in Matanzas, quickly spreading through the island's 9.7 million residents.

The impact of this outbreak has been exacerbated by the current circumstances, with shortages in clean water, medication, fuel, and food pushing many families to store water in tanks—a practice that offers breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Inadequate waste management and failures in fumigation services, which were once effective in controlling diseases in Cuba, have further fueled the outbreak.

A decade ago, Cuba effectively managed a similar chikungunya outbreak through rapid and coordinated efforts. This time, however, weakened public health operations, due to declining foreign currency reserves, US sanctions, and the lingering effects of the pandemic, have made the situation more dire.

As residents deal with water shortages and inconsistent services, local officials are pressing communities to remove stagnant water and uphold hygiene standards—challenging tasks amid the country’s most severe economic conditions in years.

Cuba is now in a race against time to contain the outbreak, as climbing infection rates place vulnerable groups, particularly children, at greater risk.