Cuba reports 33 deaths from chikungunya, dengue
Cuba’s deputy health minister Carilda Peña said Monday that 33 people, including 21 children, have died from mosquito-borne chikungunya and dengue since July as outbreaks spread across all 15 provinces. Most deaths were attributed to chikungunya, with 12 from dengue, amid sanitation problems, garbage accumulation, and water storage during shortages; the CDC has issued travel notices for Americans to Cuba advising vaccination and mosquito precautions.
📌 Key Facts
- Deaths: 33 total since July (21 children); 12 from dengue, remainder primarily chikungunya
- Geography: Outbreaks now in all 15 Cuban provinces; chikungunya began in Matanzas in July
- U.S. angle: CDC travel notices include Cuba (advising vaccination and precautions); New York reported a locally acquired chikungunya case in Oct. 2025
📊 Relevant Data
More than three million people in Cuba, approximately 30% of the population, suffer from a total or partial lack of water as of September 2025, contributing to water storage practices that facilitate mosquito breeding.
Alarm in Cuba: Over three million people suffer from a lack of water — CiberCuba
Cuba has suffered $7.5 billion in economic losses due to the U.S. blockade from March 2024 to February 2025, impacting medical services and prevention programs.
Speakers in General Assembly Highlight Impact of United States Blockade on Cuba — United Nations Press
Cuba's infant mortality rate increased to 8.2 per 1,000 births in 2025, reflecting the decline in the healthcare system amid the economic crisis.
Report connecting sanctions to deaths has implications for Cuba — People's World
89% of Cuban families suffer from extreme poverty in 2025, exacerbating vulnerabilities to health crises like disease outbreaks.
The States of Social Rights in Cuba. Report #8 (2025) — derechossocialescuba.com
Extreme poverty in Cuba mainly affects people of African descent, with 92% of Afro-Cubans disapproving of the public health service and 81% not receiving remittances.
In Cuba, Extreme Poverty Mainly Affects People of African Descent on the Island — Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights