Cuba Faces Worsening Mosquito-Borne Illness Outbreak
Havana, Cuba – Cuban authorities are contending with a major wave of mosquito-borne diseases, including dengue fever and chikungunya, with the nation’s top epidemiologist warning that nearly one-third of the population has been affected. The outbreak has also sickened large swaths of the workforce, compounding the island’s economic struggles.
On Thursday, health workers armed with fogging machines combed alleys and residential buildings in Havana, the city hardest hit by the outbreak. The fumigation campaign is part of a broader public health push to contain the spread of viruses transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, which also carries Zika virus.
“We are working intensely, as we did with COVID-19,” said Francisco Duran, national director of epidemiology at the Cuban Ministry of Public Health. “Ongoing research projects aim to find medications and vaccines to help tame the virus’s impacts.”
Chikungunya and Dengue: Growing Threats
While dengue fever has long been a recurring problem in Cuba, it has worsened due to limited fumigation, poor sanitation, and leaky infrastructure, consequences of the ongoing economic crisis.
The chikungunya virus, once rare, has spread rapidly in recent months, causing fever, rashes, severe headaches, and joint pain that can persist for months, sometimes resulting in long-term disability. Unlike dengue, chikungunya currently has no specific antiviral treatment, prompting Cuban health authorities to explore experimental therapies.
Cuba is conducting two clinical trials:
- Testing Jusviza, an injectable drug aimed at controlling hyperinflammation.
- Evaluating rectal ozone therapy for treating lingering joint pain after the acute phase of chikungunya.
Globally, chikungunya has infected almost 340,000 people in 2025, resulting in 145 deaths across 16 countries, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The World Health Organization has issued urgent calls to prevent further outbreaks.
Cuba’s Healthcare System Under Strain
Cuba’s healthcare system, historically among the best in Latin America, is under pressure due to decades of U.S. economic sanctions. Citizens face shortages of food, fuel, medicines, and insect repellent, limiting their ability to prevent infection.
Frequent power outages exacerbate the problem, forcing residents to open windows and doors for ventilation, which increases mosquito exposure.
“The blockade is a policy of collective punishment,” said Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez in October. “It flagrantly violates human rights and affects all sectors of Cuban society.”
Public Health Response
Fumigation campaigns in Havana aim to kill mosquitoes in homes and public areas, while health authorities monitor infected individuals and conduct research to manage chikungunya’s long-term effects.
Authorities are leveraging lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic to deploy resources effectively, including targeted fumigation, public awareness campaigns, and clinical trials for innovative therapies.
Experts warn that without international support and improved access to medical supplies, controlling the outbreak will remain challenging, particularly as the population density in urban areas facilitates rapid transmission.
Conclusion
Cuba’s battle against mosquito-borne illnesses illustrates the intersection of public health challenges and economic constraints. With nearly a third of the population affected, authorities are racing to contain dengue and chikungunya while conducting experimental trials to alleviate long-term symptoms.
The outbreak underscores the importance of adequate funding, infrastructure maintenance, and global cooperation in managing epidemic-prone diseases in resource-constrained settings.
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