Cuban Health Official Admits Underreporting of Dengue and Chikungunya Cases Amid Worsening Crisis
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A startling admission from a top Cuban health official reveals that official infection figures for dengue and chikungunya are likely significantly lower than the reality on the ground, as a complex epidemiological situation grips the island nation.
Havana – In a rare moment of clarity, Dr. francisco Durán García, national director of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP), acknowledged on state television Tuesday that reported figures for dengue and chikungunya infections “do not always correspond to reality.” The discrepancy, he explained, stems from the large number of sick individuals who avoid seeking medical attention and, consequently, are not included in official statistics.
“The data collected in the statistics does not always correspond to reality, as many people do not go to the doctor,” the official stated during an appearance on the Good Morning program on Cuban Television. This admission underscores a growing concern about the severity of the health crisis unfolding in Cuba.
Escalating Epidemic & Strain on Resources
According to Durán, Cuba is currently facing a “complex epidemiological situation” characterized by the widespread circulation of dengue and the rapid expansion of chikungunya across all provinces. On Monday, authorities reported 1,706 patients with non-specific febrile syndrome and 3,226 hospital admissions, with 84.1% of admitted patients receiving care at home. A total of 47,125 patients are currently hospitalized nationwide.
Chikungunya has emerged as the primary health concern, due to both the sheer number of infections and the severity of its symptoms. Authorities reported 3,103 suspected cases on Monday – a figure Durán described as “high,” indicating “significant possibilities of transmission.” The mosquito infestation rate currently stands at 0.70%, a level he described as “high,” indicating “significant possibilities of transmission.”
The official revealed that only 79% of planned fumigation activities have been completed, with 223 teams failing to operate, 163 due to personnel shortages. Insecticide treatments were not carried out in Pinar del Río, Artemisa, Matanzas, and Sancti Spíritus due to equipment breakdowns and resource scarcity.
While Durán asserted that 3,703 hospital beds are available for chikungunya patients and that “there are no patients who require admission and cannot be hospitalized,” this statement fails to address the widespread shortage of medicines in cuban hospitals – a key reason why many patients opt to stay home. He acknowledged the “despair” felt by many Cubans experiencing intense pain and facing slow response times from the healthcare system,recounting an incident where a patient in Havana told him “she was dying of discomfort.” Despite this, Durán urged the population to remain calm, admitting it was “arduous to give peace of mind to someone who is suffering from such pain.”
Durán also denied the presence of West Nile virus in Cuba,stating that the Institute of Tropical Medicine has not diagnosed any cases despite conducting hundreds of tests,although he conceded that other arboviruses are circulating on the island.
A Crisis of Transparency
The public acknowledgment that official figures are inaccurate represents a significant departure from the Cuban regime’s typical practice of concealing data or minimizing the scope of epidemiological outbreaks. Durán’s admission confirms long-held concerns voiced by doctors and citizens on social media: the health crisis in Cuba is deepening, and the healthcare system is struggling to cope with an epidemic spreading rapidly.
as MINSAP continues to release partial data and emphasize “self-care,” the Cuban population faces a lack of essential medicines, inadequate fumigation efforts, and increasingly overwhelmed hospitals. Recent reports from across the country describe overcrowded polyclinics, lengthy wait times, and patients choosing home treatment due to a lack of available care.
