Cuba’s healthcare system has initiated a groundbreaking response to the ongoing chikungunya epidemic with the establishment of the nation’s first dedicated treatment facility. The Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery in Havana’s Vedado district is leading this comprehensive care program for patients suffering from the mosquito-borne viral disease.
Dr. Orestes Lopez, director of the institution, announced the initiative through an official statement released by the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP). The specialized clinic will provide integrated medical services including detailed neurological evaluations, advanced imaging studies, targeted physical therapy regimens, and customized pain management protocols.
The treatment approach incorporates anesthetic interventions for severe pain cases alongside rehabilitative therapies designed to enhance functional recovery and improve overall quality of life for patients experiencing the debilitating after-effects of chikungunya infection. While the Vedado-based facility has been fully equipped to handle incoming cases, health authorities have not projected specific patient numbers for this pioneering clinical service.
This specialized medical response comes as Cuba confronts widespread transmission of the chikungunya virus that began in mid-year. The outbreak initially emerged as a localized cluster in Matanzas province in western Cuba before rapidly evolving into a nationwide epidemic affecting most regions of the country.