Following the fuel blockade launched by Donald Trump in January, power outages lasting more than 24 hours and water shortages in Cuba are accelerating the spread of viral diseases. Health officials have warned about various viruses, including a type of viral hepatitis, while the U.S. Embassy reported a “significant increase” in cases of diarrhea. Yuamilka Hechavarria, a healthcare worker living in Havana, said she was staying in a building with her 7-year-old son, that water reached their home after two months, and that residents fell ill. She said they resorted to street vendors and broken pipes for water, and that she herself experienced fever and diarrhea. Approximately 90% of the country’s water system depends on electric pumps; about 3.5 million people are facing water shortages. Andres Jimenez, 76, said access had become more difficult. Nurse Maria Elena Parlado said it had become harder to maintain hygiene at her clinic, where there was no water. The U.S. expanded banking restrictions targeting travel, finance and the private sector.
Why it matters
The crisis is putting pressure not only on daily life but also on the basic health conditions needed to prevent and treat diseases. Disruptions to water infrastructure dependent on electricity are making access problems in homes worse, as well as complicating cleaning and hygiene practices in clinics and increasing the burden on healthcare workers. The rise in symptoms of diarrhea and viral diseases raises the question of how the risk is distributed, particularly among children, older people and those whose access to healthcare is already limited. The U.S. expansion of banking restrictions targeting travel, finance and the private sector is increasing uncertainty over how water and healthcare services will be maintained under the current conditions; however, the text does not explain the impact of these measures on health outcomes on the ground.