Dr. Francisco Durán García, national director of Epidemiology at the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP), admitted this Tuesday on state television that the reported numbers of dengue and chikungunya infections by the regime “do not always correspond with reality,” as many sick individuals do not seek medical services and, therefore, are not officially recorded.
"The information gathered in the statistics does not always reflect reality, because many people do not go to the doctor," acknowledged the official during his appearance on the Buenos Días program of Televisión Cubana.
Durán explained that the country is experiencing a "complex epidemiological situation" characterized by the active circulation of dengue and the rapid spread of chikungunya across all provinces of the country.
According to the report, on the previous day, 1,706 patients with unspecified febrile syndrome were recorded, and 3,226 individuals were admitted, of which 84.1% remain under home care.
In total, 47,125 patients are currently hospitalized in health institutions.
The official acknowledged that chikungunya is currently the main health issue, due to the number of infections and the severity of the symptoms.
Just on the previous day, 3,103 suspected cases were reported, "although many are," a figure that was described as “high for a single day.”
He noted that the disease has a strong incidence in Camagüey, Sancti Spíritus, Cienfuegos, Matanzas, Villa Clara, Artemisa, Havana, Guantánamo, and Granma, provinces where transmission remains active.
Durán noted that 2,216 patients diagnosed with chikungunya remain hospitalized, of which 126 are in the hospital, and 63 are in intensive care units.
Of these, 44 are in serious condition and 19 are in critical condition; in total, 34 are under 18 years old, which highlights the impact of the virus on the child population.
Regarding dengue, the epidemiologist recalled that it is an endemic disease in Cuba, present in 14 provinces and 43 municipalities, and that it has caused fatalities in previous outbreaks and also in the current one, although he did not provide updated figures on deaths.
The province of Granma has new active outbreaks in the municipalities of Bayamo and Río Cauto, in addition to the existing outbreaks.
During his intervention, Dr. Francisco Durán also mentioned the Oropouche virus, an arboviral disease that was first detected in Cuba at the beginning of this year and caused concern due to its rapid initial spread.
The official assured that since September, no new cases have been diagnosed, although he specified that testing and epidemiological surveillance continue throughout the country.
The epidemiologist attempted to downplay this disease by stating that Oropouche "is no longer the main health issue," in light of the sustained increase of chikungunya.
Durán also reported that the infestation of the Aedes aegypti mosquito remains at 0.70%, a figure she deemed high, as it indicates "significant possibilities of transmission."
Despite the fumigation and larviciding campaigns, the official himself admitted that the actions "remain insufficient."
"79% of the planned activities were completed, and 223 teams did not work, of which 163 were due to a lack of manpower. The fumigation actions are still insufficient," he said, indicating that the shortage of personnel and equipment seriously impacts the vector control efforts.
In the provinces of Pinar del Río, Artemisa, Matanzas, and Sancti Spíritus, no insecticide treatments were carried out due to breakdowns or lack of resources.
Regarding hospital availability, Durán stated that the country has 3,703 beds available for the care of patients with chikungunya, and he assured that "there are no patients requiring admission who cannot be hospitalized."
According to the official, resources are prioritized for children and adults with comorbidities, while the rest remain under home observation.
However, this statement does not mention the shortage of medications in hospitals, one of the reasons why people prefer to stay at home.
The epidemiologist also acknowledged the "desperation" of many Cubans due to the intense pain and the slow response from the healthcare system.
He recounted that a patient approached him in a polyclinic in Havana, "saying that she was dying from discomfort," which, according to him, reflects the suffering and anxiety caused by the illness.
Despite this, Durán insisted that the population must remain calm, although he admitted that "it is difficult to reassure someone who is experiencing such pain."
On the other hand, the official denied the presence of the West Nile virus in the country, stating that the Institute of Tropical Medicine "has not diagnosed any cases" after conducting hundreds of tests, although he acknowledged that other arboviruses are circulating on the island.
The public acknowledgment that the figures do not reflect reality is an unusual occurrence in the official narrative of the regime, which commonly tends to gloss over data or downplay epidemiological outbreaks.
Durán's admission, however, confirms what many doctors and citizens have reported on social media: the health crisis in Cuba is worsening, and the healthcare system lacks the resources to confront an epidemic that is spreading rapidly.
While the MINSAP continues to provide partial figures and appeal for "self-care," the population is facing a lack of medications, deficiencies in fumigation, and the collapse of hospitals.
In recent days, reports from various provinces indicate overcrowded outpatient clinics, long wait times, and patients who, due to lack of care, are choosing to treat themselves at home.
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