Cuba hit by surge of dengue and other infectious diseases

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Source: BMJ

Original: http://www.bmj.com/content/391/bmj.r2688.short?rss=1...

Published: 2025-12-31T02:16:01-08:00

Cuba has been hit by an epidemic of several mosquito-borne infectious diseases, which have killed 33 people, 21 of them children.The main threat is chikungunya, a viral disease causing fever and severe joint pain that has spread to 15 provinces since July.In parallel, dengue and oropouche are also spreading in Cuba, with these viruses present in at least 12 provinces.2][3] The epidemic is caused by several factors, including hot and humid months, lack of clean water, inadequate mosquito disinfection due to lack of fuel, and water build-up in pipes.[1][2] Cuban hospitals are operating at maximum capacity and lack medicines, diagnostic reagents, and disinfectants.The situation has been exacerbated by the economic crisis that has been ongoing in Cuba since the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to a reduction in health services and disease prevention programs.1]