The authorities of Isla de la Juventud acknowledged on Friday deficiencies in solid waste collection and raised concerns about a worrying increase in dengue cases in the area during a plenary session of the Municipal Assembly of People's Power, where delegates discussed both issues.
According to the report from the official newspaper Victoria, the Comunales Company presented in the plenary session a waste collection project that is progressing unevenly among the different districts of the municipality.
The Chacón district is noted as the most advanced in the implementation of the program, while in the 26 de Julio area, two additional carts will be added to enhance the service.
In Abel, it is scheduled to start actions during the next week, and in Pueblo Nuevo, one of the largest areas of the special municipality, the authorities will first conduct a study to tailor the strategy to its specific characteristics.
The project also includes a phased extension to the districts of La Demajagua and Patria.
This plan is set within a context of partial privatization of the service, taking into account that since August, the mipyme Belmary began charging for waste collection in the neighborhoods of Chacón and Sierra Caballos, with the warning that those who do not pay the fee will be identified by inspectors from the Community Services Company.
In parallel, the municipal director of Public Health, Bárbara Daudinó, presented in the plenary session the complex epidemiological situation that the territory faces due to the increase in arboviruses, particularly dengue.
The official warned that serotype 2 of dengue is the most prevalent in the country and alerted about the risk of transmission in the municipality, while urging the population to seek medical attention immediately at any sign of fever.
The situation is particularly critical in the town of La Fe, where the diagnosed cases of dengue have increased by more than 40 compared to the previous week, although there have been no reports of serious cases so far, the outlet noted in another report.
Microbiologists in the area confirmed the circulation of several serotypes, including serotype 2, which can worsen a patient's condition within hours and pose a risk to their life.
To contain the outbreak, about 40 members of the Armed Forces were deployed in La Fe alongside medical personnel, and outdoor fumigations with microdroplets are being applied, along with active door-to-door screenings and intensive sanitation campaigns, he specified.
The health crisis in Isla de la Juventud is not an isolated case. Sancti Spíritus has recorded five consecutive weeks of rising dengue incidence rates.
Additionally, the province of Guantánamo remains under Heightened Epidemiological Alert due to the proliferation of dumps, while the municipality of Unión de Reyes reported 154 febrile patients and is unable to carry out regular fumigation due to the energy crisis.
Cuba ended 2025 with over 81,900 cases of dengue and chikungunya, and at least 65 deaths, according to the Pan American Health Organization.
The Deputy Minister of Public Health, Carilda Peña, warned in June that "if we do not take a series of actions, we could face an epidemic."
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