The Ministry reported a rate of 24.3 suspected cases of arbovirosis per 100,000 inhabitants, which rises to 59.6 in the specific case of dengue
14ymedio, Madrid, October 23, 2025 — The Cuban authorities explained yesterday that the health crisis, far from improving, is getting worse. And not just a little. Carilda García Peña, Deputy Minister of Public Health, said on Wednesday that there is a “significant increase in the rate of suspected cases of fever, with 24.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The Ministry has not broken down the data by disease and merely points out that dengue is the “most dangerous” one, but data from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) show that the rate in this case reaches 59.6 per 100,000.
García Peña warned that the regional context is bad and that the situation of the Island is not exclusive. The PAHO figures, which are provided by the authorities of each country, coincide. There are rates much higher than the Cuban one, from 6,191 in Guyana to 1,629 in Brazil and 333 in Panama. If divided by regions, the Island is not the champion either, since Puerto Rico, with 81.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, has worse numbers.
There is, however, one very striking fact, which is the difference in ratio between global and severe cases. This figure gives clues about the effectiveness of the health system, since a country could have many registered patients but few that develop badly, as is the case of Brazil, whose proportion is only 0.07% of serious cases in total. Cuba is among the countries with the worst proportions, since a large majority have rates well below 1% and the Island reaches 1.09%. What is worrying is that the US, with only 0.21 dengue patients per 100,000 inhabitants, has a proportion of 1.78% cases that develop badly.
Cuba is among the countries with the worst proportions, since a large majority have rates well below 1% and the Island reaches 1.09%
According to the numbers provided by the authorities to PAHO, 71 cases of severe illness have been recorded on the Island, out of a total of 6,519 affected. This figure refers to suspected cases, not just confirmed ones, but they must have been reported to the authorities to be included in the count. Therefore, the actual figures must be much higher, since not all patients report their symptoms or seek out medical services because of the lack of personnel and medicines and the unsanitary conditions.
García Peña said yesterday, as OPS also stated on its social media, that Cuba has more circulating cases of dengue type 2, 3 and especially 4. Although all are considered potentially dangerous, types 2 and 3 are most commonly associated with serious developments, according to the scientific community. The deputy minister pointed out that an infected person who has a serotype different from the one he contracted is more likely to get worse, to have hemorrhagic dengue, or even have increased chances of dying.
The official focused on this disease because, as is warned, when viewing the incidence of dengue separately, the one that is most in circulation is the most serious of the four types. In addition, there are also chikungunya, Zika, yellow fever and oropouche, the latter in slight decline.
By province, there are more cases of dengue in Las Tunas, Ciego de Ávila, Matanzas, Sancti Spíritus, Villa Clara and Havana, not necessarily in that order. The minister did not indicate the number of cases by province, nor which one has the most. Meanwhile, chikungunya, which began its expansion through Perico (Matanzas) in July, has spread to almost the entire Island, with Havana and Matanzas being the most affected.
By province, there are more cases of dengue in Las Tunas, Ciego de Ávila, Matanzas, Sancti Spíritus, Villa Clara and Havana, not necessarily in that order
The authorities insisted yesterday that a massive fumigation campaign is underway against the Aedes aegypti mosquito that spreads the disease, although the population signals it is already too late. There are 26 fumigation carts and 2,334 backpack bazookas with insecticides, and they are guaranteed, said the official, to wipe out the larvae in water containers.
The main challenge is making sure people do not get to the point of having serious illness and avoid fatal outcomes,” added Reinol Delfín García Moreiro, Deputy Minister of Public Health, who supported his colleague’s call to be aware of the disease and seek medical attention. Cuba has, he argued, more than 10,700 medical offices and 451 polyclinics with emergency services, despite the fact that the authorities themselves recognize the delicate situation in which they find themselves.
Translated by Regina Anavy
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