Ulises Toirac denounces the government's delay in declaring the arbovirus epidemic in Cuba

The Cuban comedian Ulises Toirac questioned this Friday the regime's delay in officially declaring the arbovirosis epidemic in Cuba, after months in which the country has been overwhelmed by dengue, chikungunya, and other mosquito-borne diseases.

In a post on Facebook, Toirac expressed his regret that the authorities have only now acknowledged the epidemic, when the situation is already out of control and thousands of Cubans have fallen ill across the country.

"Two or three days ago, the topic of an arboviral epidemic in Cuba was mentioned for the first time, while people have been falling ill like flies for the past three months in places like Matanzas," wrote the comedian, who recently stated he was "in fashion" for catching chikungunya.

Toirac described the regime's actions as an act of "indolence," having denied for weeks the existence of a massive outbreak that was already evident to the population.

"The health authorities have denied the existence of a situation that is now impossible to control for a precious amount of time," he noted.

The comedian noted that, unlike the coronavirus, arboviruses are transmitted by mosquitoes, and that Cuba provides ideal conditions for their spread due to poor sanitation and the accumulation of garbage in the cities.

The country is somewhat of a panacea for those insects. Such a high number of mosquitoes makes it virtually impossible to stop the spread. No repellent is 100% effective. There’s always a pesky mosquito that bites,” he quipped.

Toirac also denounced the lack of information and guidance for the population, which he described as a victim of the consequences of the regime's healthcare management.

"The population, without guidance on the matter, has been a victim of all the consequences, including death. And this is another level of indifference," he concluded.

The comedian's statement adds to the growing social unrest over the epidemiological crisis the country is facing, following months of official silence and lack of transparency.

In recent days, doctors, activists, and citizens have reported on the hospital collapse and the lack of resources to confront an epidemic that the government attempted to hide.