The audacity of the Cuban regime seems to know no bounds: as citizens endure power outages lasting up to 20 hours daily and the government sells repellents priced in dollars, Carilda Peña, the Deputy Minister of Public Health -- who likely doesn't face blackouts herself -- has suggested "burning citrus peels" as a traditional method to repel dengue mosquitoes amidst a surge in arbovirus cases sweeping the nation.

In a broadcast on Cuban Television, the official acknowledged that the country is dealing with "a complex epidemiological situation" and that the Aedes aegypti mosquito indices are alarmingly high. However, she admitted that the Ministry of Health lacks the necessary fuel to conduct extensive fumigation campaigns "as done in the past."

"We must resort to all available means," emphasized Peña, recommending the use of mosquito nets, long sleeves, homemade repellents, and smoke from burning specific citrus peels, as these can "repel the vector and safeguard health."

The deputy minister also confirmed the concurrent circulation of multiple mosquito-borne viruses in Cuba, including dengue and chikungunya, first identified in the municipality of Perico, Matanzas. She explained that the presence of both diseases worsens the health crisis, necessitating "integrated and comprehensive actions" in high-case areas.

Peña noted that chikungunya diagnosis is limited to PCR testing, which restricts its detection, and reiterated that dengue remains the "benchmark disease" for arboviruses in the island. Amid resource shortages, she called for cooperation from local institutions and citizens to "clean up the environment" and eliminate mosquito breeding sites both indoors and outdoors.

"We need to clear overgrowth, channel ditches, fix leaks, and allocate all available resources to combat the issue," she stated.

This call to "use every possible method" highlights the erosion of the state's ability to effectively address health crises, in a context where essential resources for epidemiological control are scarce and hospitals face shortages of medications, insecticides, and personnel.

The deputy minister's comments sparked criticism on social media, with many users mocking the government's "primitive" measures. Meanwhile, as the deputy minister advocates burning citrus peels, Cuba's Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) officially acknowledged on Wednesday the deaths of three individuals from dengue so far in 2025.

This figure -- notably low -- marks the first official recognition of arbovirus-related deaths this year, following weeks of institutional silence and public denials in the face of citizen reports warning of a rise in severe cases, especially in the province of Matanzas.

Authorities in Matanzas, a severely affected province, admitted to high transmission rates of dengue and chikungunya but hope that winter will reduce cases, despite the healthcare system's collapse and lack of vector control.