Dr. Francisco Durán Addresses the Surge of "Dumpster Divers" in Cuban Streets

Dr. Francisco Durán García, the national director of Epidemiology at the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP), cautiously touched on the increasing number of "dumpster divers" in Cuba. These are individuals scavenging through trash bins for food scraps or items. Durán García did not delve deeply into the causes or consequences of this behavior, which is linked to the escalating economic crisis plaguing the nation. He did, however, label the surge as a form of "indiscipline."

"Sanitation remains our toughest challenge, still fraught with serious issues, due to both waste collection and the prevailing social indiscipline," Durán stated during his weekly television segment discussing epidemiological matters in the country. "You increasingly find more people rummaging through garbage bins, creating disorder," he added, without further addressing the sensitive issue.

The reality is that Cuba is grappling with a health crisis exacerbated by extreme poverty and inadequate sanitation, which heightens epidemiological risks on the island.

The Threat of Dengue and Oropouche Viruses

Shifting focus, Dr. Francisco Durán emphasized the ongoing circulation of dengue and the Oropouche virus. He noted that dengue transmission is currently confined to three provinces, four municipalities, and four health areas. Over 2,500 individuals are hospitalized under dengue suspicion, though no severe or critical cases have been reported. No new serotypes of dengue have emerged, with serotypes 3 and 4 being predominant, and the more virulent type 2 appearing less frequently.

Regarding Oropouche, it is present in seven provinces, eight municipalities, and eight health areas, with cases not leading to severe, critical, or complicated situations. There is no alarming epidemic situation at present, only the typical seasonal circulation of influenza and respiratory viruses. Diarrheal cases have not seen an increase, and COVID-19 remains minimal, with only three or four cases weekly, according to Durán.

Garbage: A Pressing Issue

Although Durán only briefly mentioned it, waste collection in Cuba has become a chronic problem, affecting both public hygiene and the quality of life for citizens. In many cities, including Havana and Santiago de Cuba, trash accumulates on the streets for days or even weeks without being collected. This not only has a severe environmental impact but also fosters the spread of pests like rats, mosquitoes, and cockroaches, heightening disease risks.

The authorities have acknowledged the crisis, yet the measures taken have proven insufficient to effectively tackle the problem. The causes of this crisis are varied, notably including the lack of operational garbage trucks, fuel shortages, and disorganization within municipal cleaning services. Compounding these issues is the deteriorating infrastructure for waste management, with overflowing landfills lacking proper treatment to minimize environmental impact. The situation worsens in peripheral neighborhoods and rural areas, where waste collection is even more sporadic, forcing residents to either burn trash or dispose of it in vacant lots.

Cubans have voiced their frustration over the inefficiency of sanitation services and the government's lack of concrete responses. In some places, community-driven initiatives have emerged to clean streets and remove makeshift dumps, but these efforts fall short without institutional support. Meanwhile, the accumulation of garbage remains a visible and worrying problem, affecting not only the country's image but also posing a direct threat to public health and the environment.