Residents of a building on Sitios Street, between Ayestarán and Infanta, in Havana, reported an invasion of rats that is affecting several homes and could compromise the hygiene of a nearby food preparation center.
The complaint was published on Friday on Facebook by Lizehima Pinos, a resident of the building, who claimed to speak on behalf of all the residents and accompanied her complaint with photographs of dead rodents, some of significant size, captured inside the building.
According to the explanation, the problem originates from two yards located less than three meters from the property, where leaves, cans, banana plant remains, and other waste accumulate. The buildup of garbage has turned these areas into breeding grounds for rats and insects.
"For several weeks now, these little animals have moved into the building in search of food for their survival and have invaded several homes," wrote the complainant.
Residents attempted to talk to those in charge of the patios to find a solution, but according to their testimony, they only received unfulfilled promises. "Yes, when the owner arrives, I'll tell them," and "we'll resolve it this weekend," were some of the responses they received.
The biggest concern of the neighbors is that rodents may also gain access to the food preparation center located at the back of the building, which supplies a large portion of the community.
"In the same way they enter the apartments in my building, they could be invading the production center from which we all source our supplies. We have no doubt about that," the woman warned, recalling the risk of diseases like leptospirosis, transmitted by infected animals.
The author of the publication stated that her claim also aims to protect elderly residents and small children living in the building.
The comments reflected outrage and distrust towards the authorities. "The saddest thing is that the government doesn’t care at all," wrote one user, while another summarized their perception of the country's sanitary conditions with the phrase "Cuba is a dump everywhere."
The reported situation adds to other cases of garbage accumulation and rodent infestation, amidst the garbage collection crisis. In February, only 44 out of the 106 collection trucks in the capital were operational, according to official data.
The proliferation of rats has also been reported in healthcare facilities. In August, a baby rat was spotted in the Perinatology room of the Juan Bruno Zayas hospital in Santiago de Cuba, and months earlier, images circulated of rodents roaming the hallways of the Enrique Cabrera hospital in Havana.
Between 2018 and 2022, leptospirosis caused 105 confirmed deaths in Cuba, according to data from the National Reference Laboratory. Of these, 26 were in Havana. These figures highlight the health risk posed by the proliferation of rodents, especially in residential areas and establishments related to food handling.
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