Havana (EFE).- Dengue cases in Cuba have surged by more than 71% in just seven days, the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) warned on Wednesday, as the island faces a fast-worsening epidemic driven by economic constraints and limited mosquito-control efforts.
Deputy Health Minister Carilda Peña said on state television that the current dengue incidence rate has risen to 6.52 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, up from 3.81 reported last Wednesday.
Based on Cuba’s 9.7 million residents, daily infections jumped from 369 to 632 cases in a week.
“The rate grew compared to the same day of the previous week, which was 3.81. We continue to issue the alert that, although chikungunya is dominant in this epidemic, we cannot forget dengue and the complications it may cause,” Peña said.
While MINSAP does not release precise daily dengue figures, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported this week, using official Cuban data, that 25,995 dengue infections were recorded from January to late November.
Chikungunya cases also rising
Peña added that 2,712 new cases of unspecified febrile syndrome, the first common symptom of both dengue and chikungunya, were detected in the previous 24 hours.
Authorities confirmed 466 new chikungunya cases, bringing the national total to 42,805.
A total of 65 patients remain in intensive care with either dengue or chikungunya, six fewer than the previous day.
So far, Cuba has confirmed 44 deaths linked to dengue and chikungunya.
Health officials have repeatedly acknowledged a significant underreporting, as many people avoid seeking medical care due to shortages and long waits.
Crisis conditions fuel spread
The Cuban government publicly recognized the epidemic on Nov. 12, months after the first cases were detected in July and infections spiked sharply in September and October.
Health specialists warn that the outbreak has expanded rapidly due to the country’s severe economic crisis, which has undermined key prevention and response measures: mass fumigation campaigns against mosquitoes, laboratory testing to identify infection type, and proper treatment due to shortages of medicines and basic medical supplies.
Authorities continue urging the public to eliminate breeding sites for the Aedes aegypti mosquito, but community efforts remain limited by power outages, water scarcity, and deteriorated sanitation conditions. EFE
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