Mosquito-Covered Man in Batabanó Sparks Debate: Reality or AI Manipulation?

Recently shared on social media, three photos purportedly from Batabanó, a municipality in southern Mayabeque province, showcase a man swarming with mosquitoes on his back and arm. This alarming scene has sparked both concern and skepticism among Facebook users regarding the images' authenticity.

The images, posted by the Facebook page Ojo Cuba, depict the man from behind on a pedicab, his white shirt teeming with insects. Accompanying the photos was a brief caption: "How can they expect people not to get sick in Batabanó?"

The photos bear a watermark indicating they were taken with a Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G, suggesting the device used but not confirming whether the images were later altered.

Debate Over Image Authenticity

The post ignited an immediate debate. Some viewers believe the photos depict a genuine scenario, while others suspect the involvement of artificial intelligence (AI) in either generating or modifying the images.

"That's AI, liars. Not even when fishing by a reservoir do you see that," one user challenged. Another echoed this sentiment, dismissing the photos as "pure AI" and urging for more credible content.

Conversely, other commenters insisted they had encountered similar mosquito swarms in various parts of Cuba. "I had to work in that area, and it's truly unbearable with all those mosquitoes," one individual shared. Another person generalized the issue by stating, "It's like that in Batabanó and all over Cuba."

Widespread Mosquito Concerns Across Cuba

An anonymous source from Batabanó revealed to CiberCuba that "the mosquito presence is so intense that they even fly into your mouth when you talk."

Comments also highlighted mosquito issues in Guanabo, the Zapata Swamp, Quivicán, Melena del Sur, the Isle of Youth, and Buenavista Beach. A user from the latter mentioned a "fever outbreak due to this and overflowing garbage," although this claim lacked substantiating details.

Complaints about the lack of fumigation were rampant. One commenter from Melena del Sur claimed, "They don't fumigate or do anything," linking it to vehicles allegedly having fuel.

Another person questioned the restrictions on importing insecticides into Cuba, recounting an attempt to send a bedbug spray to a relative, which was unsuccessful.

The Bigger Picture: Health Risks and Government Inaction

The published photos sparked disbelief about their authenticity. However, numerous comments described similar mosquito experiences across Cuban regions, though these accounts alone cannot verify the scenes depicted.

According to the Global Dengue Observatory at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Cuba has reported over 7,100 dengue cases this year, a figure 7.4 times higher than expected for this time of year, per a September report.

The island typically experiences a dengue peak in October, suggesting the situation may worsen in coming weeks. The Ministry of Public Health (Minsap) has confirmed the active circulation of all four dengue serotypes and warned of chikungunya cases in provinces such as Pinar del Río, Sancti Spíritus, Villa Clara, and Havana municipalities.

Fumigation efforts are stalled across much of the country due to fuel shortages. The accumulation of trash, extended power outages forcing open windows and doors, and the collapse of the state vector control system create favorable conditions for infestations like those seemingly depicted in the Batabanó images.

In the absence of official fumigation, many Cubans have turned to homemade solutions. In July, a Cuban woman demonstrated using a can with cardboard and candles to produce smoke and repel mosquitoes after enduring seven sleepless nights. "We've returned to the primitive era," she commented.