The Ministry of Public Health of Cuba (Minsap) confirmed that chikungunya continues to circulate in the country and highlighted Pinar del Río, Sancti Spíritus, Villa Clara, and several municipalities in Havana as areas currently exhibiting the highest incidence rates.
«Today we have to say that this disease is circulating in the country. Chikungunya is present», stated the Deputy Minister of Public Health Carilda Peña García during an appearance on Friday in the program Buenos Días, broadcast by Canal Caribe.
Peña did not provide an updated national figure of cases during that statement, but explained that the territories with the highest incidence largely coincide with those where fewer people fell ill during the severe epidemic wave last year.
"Today we are talking about Pinar del Río, we are talking about Sancti Spíritus, we are talking about Villa Clara, we are talking about a group of territories in Havana," he detailed.
According to the epidemiologist, there remains a larger number of people susceptible to illness in those areas because they did not contract the virus during the previous outbreak.
The Deputy Minister recalled that the 2025 epidemic reached a considerable magnitude and affected virtually the entire country. In November of that year, Minsap itself had reported over 20,000 cases of chikungunya, amidst a strong circulation of arboviruses.
That same month, data from the Pan American Health Organization placed Cuba with the highest accumulated chikungunya rate in America, with 20,062 infections recorded by early November 2025.
Peña warned that one of the most problematic features of the disease is its prolonged consequences, particularly the pain and inflammation in the joints, which can persist even after overcoming the acute phase.
Among the symptoms that may indicate chikungunya, she mentioned persistent and difficult-to-control fever, joint pain, and inflammation of the joints. The official stated that, following the experience of the previous epidemic, the medical staff is better prepared to clinically differentiate this disease from dengue.
The warning was specifically directed at pregnant women in the last trimester, newborns, young children, and individuals with chronic illnesses, such as heart disease and diabetes.
In the case of pregnant women close to delivery, Peña noted that there is a high probability of transmission to the newborn when the mother contracts chikungunya around that time. He also indicated that women living in areas with outbreaks or high mosquito infestation may be admitted to maternity homes to reduce the risk of exposure.
The deputy minister also urged against resuming exercises or physical efforts immediately after the acute phase. She recalled that during the previous wave, there were young people who felt recovered, began to engage in physical activity again, and later suffered complications that, she stated, led to fatalities.
The circulation of chikungunya also takes place in a complicated healthcare scenario. The Minsap recently acknowledged challenges with water, sanitation, waste accumulation, and the control of the mosquito Aedes aegypti, the vector responsible for transmitting both chikungunya and dengue.
During the same appearance, Peña admitted that there is a “complicated hygiene situation” in several of the areas with the highest incidence and acknowledged that fumigations are limited by the availability of fuel, as many equipment require diesel or gasoline.
The official insisted on eliminating potential breeding sites within the homes, protecting the storage tanks for water, and maintaining the chemical treatment placed in the tanks.
The Minsap also maintains surveillance over dengue, which is experiencing its seasonal increase. an analysis released in September indicated that its incidence is 7.4 times above the expected level for this period in 2026.
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