US embassy issues health alert for Cuba amid oil blockade, sanctions - Reuters

The U.S. embassy in Havana issued a health alert on September 4, warning both travelers and residents of a marked increase in intestinal illnesses and diarrhea across the island. The alert noted that the surge in cases is linked to problems with the island’s water and electricity supply.

According to the embassy, the degradation of water and energy infrastructure is affecting the reliability of water distribution and the ability to store food and maintain temperature control, conditions that facilitate the spread of diarrheal disease. Officials emphasized that the situation poses a heightened health risk for the population.

The embassy’s warning follows a fuel blockade imposed by the Trump administration nine months earlier, which has restricted fuel shipments needed for power generation. The reduction in fuel supplies has contributed to frequent power cuts, complicating refrigeration and sanitary measures in homes and businesses.

United Nations‑appointed human‑rights experts have described the fuel blockade as a violation of international law and have warned that the tightening of sanctions increases the risk of disease outbreaks. In a statement issued in August, the experts said the humanitarian consequences are already unfolding into a full‑blown crisis, threatening the rights to health, life, food and development.

The U.S. administration has defended the sanctions, stating that they are intended to compel changes in the Cuban government’s policies, a goal it has pursued for decades since the era of Fidel Castro.