The epidemiological situation in Sancti Spíritus remains critical due to the concurrent occurrence of dengue and chikungunya, as acknowledged by health authorities in the region. In a press conference, specialists confirmed that the province is facing an epidemic due to the widespread circulation of both viruses.
The provincial medium Escambray reflected that “official statistics are miles away from reality regarding both viruses”, noting that many people become ill and do not visit healthcare centers, which prevents an accurate understanding of the true extent of the outbreak.
Local reports indicate that most neighborhoods have been affected and that chikungunya leaves prolonged aftermath, with joint pain and weakness that can last for months. It is also noted that the Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine can only process a portion of the samples due to capacity limitations, and that fumigations have not been able to be carried out intensively due to lack of resources.
Despite the efforts of medical and nursing staff, the high level of infestation of the mosquito Aedes aegypti and the lack of basic supplies hinder the control of the outbreak. In the province, about 80 percent of the breeding sites are located inside or around homes.
Days after that local report, Miguel Díaz-Canel met with scientists at the Palace of the Revolution, where they assured him that cases of dengue and chikungunya are decreasing in Cuba. According to the television report, the country is experiencing its eighth consecutive week of reduced cases, although most provinces remain within the epidemic endemic corridor.
During that meeting, it was reported that there are over 2,800 active cases of chikungunya distributed across 134 municipalities, and that areas such as Guantánamo, Las Tunas, Santiago de Cuba, Pinar del Río, and Artemisa have incidence rates higher than the national average. In Matanzas, about 60 percent of patients seek rehabilitation treatment or traditional medicine three months after infection.
Weeks earlier, the national director of Epidemiology, Francisco Durán García, had acknowledged on television that “the officially reported figures for dengue and chikungunya infections do not always match reality”, as many sick individuals do not seek medical services and thus remain unregistered.
In Sancti Spíritus, the population continues to face an increase in cases of fever, a shortage of medications, and difficulties in implementing vector control measures. Health authorities acknowledge that the situation remains complex and that the greatest challenge lies in halting the spread of the transmitting mosquito.
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