Cuba Faces a Public Health Emergency Due to Dengue and Chikungunya

Stagnant water on a street in Havana, ideal conditions for the proliferation of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits dengue fever and chikungunya (Photo: Ernesto Mastrascusa/EFE)

Cuba is facing a severe public health emergency as mosquito-borne arboviruses, particularly dengue and chikungunya, continue to spread. The country’s national director of epidemiology has reported that approximately 47,125 people are currently hospitalized with dengue or chikungunya. He has also acknowledged that these numbers significantly underestimate the true burden of disease, as many symptomatic individuals do not seek care, and not all cases are captured by surveillance systems. Official estimates indicate that at least 30% of the Cuban population has been infected at some point, meaning that millions of people have been affected by these viruses.

The current situation is occurring against a backdrop of prolonged economic crisis and declining infrastructure. Independent observers and health professionals in Cuba report limited access to essential supplies, recurrent power outages, unreliable access to safe water, and overburdened health services. These conditions hinder sustained vector-control activities, including source reduction, environmental sanitation, and community engagement to reduce Aedes aegypti breeding sites. As a result, transmission foci are difficult to eliminate, and outbreaks have spread rapidly across multiple provinces.

Cuba’s crisis has broader implications for other countries with similar ecological and social determinants of health. In the Americas, including parts of the United States, climate conditions increasingly favor Aedes mosquito proliferation, especially in dense urban environments where water storage, unmanaged waste, and informal housing can create abundant breeding sites. Rising temperatures and seasonal rainfall patterns further enhance mosquito survival and virus transmission, increasing the risk of localized outbreaks and sustained transmission when prevention measures are insufficient.

Ongoing prevention remains the most effective strategy. Eliminating standing water, monitoring outdoor areas, and adopting sustainable control solutions are essential measures. Biodegradable traps, such as Aedes Mosquito Killers, help break the mosquito’s life cycle naturally and affordably, reducing vector density and contributing to the prevention of diseases like dengue, particularly during rainy seasons.

The situation in Cuba highlights how gaps in prevention, weak infrastructure, and limited health system capacity can allow endemic arboviruses to escalate into large-scale epidemics with serious public health consequences. For countries facing similar vulnerabilities, sustained investment in vector control, infrastructure, and community-based prevention is not optional—it is essential for protecting populations from dengue, chikungunya, and other emerging mosquito-borne threats.