Post by : Badri Ariffin

Cuba is facing an urgent public health crisis, with 33 fatalities confirmed—21 of whom are children—due to chikungunya and dengue since July. This alarming outbreak has affected all 15 provinces, heightening the strain on a healthcare system already beleaguered by the country's deepening economic turmoil.

Chikungunya, a mosquito-transmitted virus causing high fevers and debilitating joint pain, accounts for the majority of the deaths. Dengue has also played a significant role, contributing to 12 fatalities. The outbreak originated in the western province of Matanzas but has now rapidly swept across the island's 9.7 million inhabitants.

This outbreak's timing exacerbates its impact. Scarcity of clean water, fuel, food, and medicine has compelled many households to store water, creating conducive conditions for mosquito breeding. Accumulated waste and the decline in fumigation efforts, once a cornerstone of Cuba’s disease management, have intensified the crisis.

Unlike a decade ago, when Cuba successfully quelled a chikungunya outbreak with coordinated action, current challenges like dwindling foreign currency reserves, U.S. sanctions, and residual pandemic effects have weakened the once-effective public health framework.

As Cubans deal with water shortages and inconsistent services, authorities are urging communities to clear stagnant water and maintain hygiene, though such efforts are challenging amid the nation's most severe economic difficulties in years.

Cuba is now in a race against time to curb the outbreak, with rising infection rates placing vulnerable groups, particularly children, at increased risk.

#Global News