Cuba faces severe arbovirus crisis amid critical medication shortages

Cuba is facing its most severe arboviral crisis since July 2025, driven by simultaneous outbreaks of chikungunya, dengue, and Oropouche. The Pan American Health Organization reported 81,909 suspected cases and 65 deaths related to these viruses.

Patients are struggling with extreme physical symptoms, including debilitating pain described by one social media user as ‘fire burning the bones from within’. The situation is exacerbated by a critical shortage of essential medicines. Because there are no specific antiviral treatments for these viruses, patients rely on analgesics and anti-inflammatories to manage symptoms, but these supplies are largely unavailable in Cuban pharmacies.

Government figures indicate a severe scarcity of medical supplies; President Miguel Díaz-Canel previously acknowledged that only 30% of the basic medication kit is available nationwide. A survey revealed that only 4.8% of Cubans can obtain necessary drugs without significant difficulty.