Canadians planning to travel to Cuba are being advised to take added health precautions as the country grapples with a sharp increase in several infectious diseases, described by experts as one of Cuba’s most serious public health crises in decades.
An article published this week in the peer-reviewed BMJ reports a surge in mosquito-borne illnesses, including dengue, chikungunya and Oropouche virus. The report, written by journalist Luke Taylor, says the outbreak is placing significant strain on hospitals and mortuaries across the country.
Cuban authorities have reported more than 38,000 suspected cases of these infections so far this year, according to research cited in the BMJ article. Symptoms commonly include fever, joint pain and fatigue, and the diseases are primarily spread by insects.
Cuba’s Deputy Minister of Public Health, Carilda Peña García, confirmed that 12 people have died from dengue and 21 from chikungunya in 2025, the journal reported.
The article also suggests the severity of the outbreak may be greater than official figures indicate. Public health experts cited by Taylor allege that government data has been unreliable, with some hospitals and funeral homes described as “overflowing.”
In October, Cuba’s Minister of Public Health José Ángel Portal Miranda said increased circulation of the diseases was expected due to summer heat and heavy rainfall, adding that such illnesses are “neither new, nor rare or unknown.”
Similar spikes in dengue, chikungunya and other insect-borne illnesses have also been recorded in countries including Brazil, Colombia and Peru, according to the BMJ report.
Canadian travel guidance
According to advisories updated in November and December, the Government of Canada is urging travellers to Cuba to take steps to prevent mosquito and midge bites, which transmit chikungunya and Oropouche.
Recommended precautions include using approved insect repellents on exposed skin, wearing light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing made from tightly woven fabrics, and covering arms and legs with long sleeves, pants, socks and closed-toe shoes. Travellers are also advised to stay in accommodations with air conditioning or screened windows and to use insecticide-treated mosquito nets when necessary.
Federal health guidance recommends consulting a health-care provider at least six weeks before departure to discuss risks, vaccinations and other preventative measures.
The government also notes that cases of hepatitis A have been reported among travellers returning to Canada from Cuba, underscoring the importance of vaccination and safe food and water practices.
Canadians travelling to Cuba are encouraged to monitor official travel advisories closely and take appropriate health precautions before and during their trip.