US Embassy Issues Health Alert Over Rise in Intestinal Illnesses in Cuba Amid Power and Water Crisis

A person sleeps on the Malecón seawall to escape the heat of their homes during a power outage in Havana earlier this month

The US Embassy in Havana has issued a health alert over a rise in intestinal illnesses and diarrhea across Cuba, linking the outbreak to the continued deterioration of the island’s water and electricity infrastructure. The warning comes as the Trump administration continues to restrict fuel shipments to Cuba, worsening power shortages and creating additional problems for water supplies, food refrigeration and sanitation. “The US Embassy has noted a significant increase in diarrheal illness across Cuba, associated with the continuing degradation of the water and energy infrastructure,” the embassy said in its alert on Friday. “This degradation affects water supply, and food storage and temperature control.” The embassy urged travelers and residents to exercise caution around food that may not have been properly stored. It specifically warned against eating “foods that appear to have been sitting at room temperature for extended periods” and advised people to be wary of perishable food that may have been inadequately refrigerated. The health warning comes nine months after the Trump administration imposed a fuel blockade on the communist-run island. The restrictions have contributed to prolonged power cuts, with blackouts lasting for days becoming increasingly common, while the lack of reliable electricity has made it difficult for households and businesses to refrigerate food or maintain sanitary conditions. Cuba has also been facing widespread reports of illness. Residents have described bouts lasting several days, with symptoms including diarrhea, fever and body aches that have left some people bedridden. The deteriorating conditions have drawn criticism from UN-appointed human rights experts, who have warned that the US sanctions could fuel a wider public health crisis. In August, a team of UN experts warned of a growing risk of disease outbreaks as Washington tightened sanctions on Cuba, saying the humanitarian impact was already becoming severe. “The humanitarian consequences are already unfolding into a full-blown crisis, threatening the rights to health, to life, to food and to development,” the experts said. The Trump administration has defended its sanctions policy, arguing that the measures are intended to pressure Cuba’s communist government into political change. Trump has also described Cuba as a national security threat to the United States. Meanwhile, the island’s hot and humid summer has compounded the impact of the shortages. With electricity unreliable, residents have struggled to use air conditioners and fans, while prolonged outages have made food preservation increasingly difficult.