The U.S. Embassy in Havana has issued a health alert due to the limitations on imports to Cuba caused by sanctions

The U.S. Embassy in Havana issued a health alert on Friday regarding a notable rise in diarrheal illnesses throughout Cuba, attributed to contaminated water and insufficient refrigeration.

“Recent cases have included E. coli, norovirus, Shigella, and other gastrointestinal pathogens,” stated the alert shared on its website and social media.

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The warning arises as a U.S. naval embargo and heightened sanctions have obstructed or significantly restricted Cuban imports of oil, medicine, and various other goods. The outcome has been widespread electricity blackouts, food shortages, and the cessation of medical and other services, which the Trump administration attributes to incompetence and corruption within the Cuban government.

Directed mainly at the decreasing number of U.S. citizens traveling to Cuba, the alert recommended that individuals within the country, “especially those experiencing frequent diarrhea or vomiting,” should steer clear of foods “that may have been inadequately stored” and ensure they stay hydrated with water “known to be safe.”

It was noted that antibiotics and over-the-counter medicines “are frequently unavailable in Cuba,” and visitors were advised to bring their own supplies.

A separate security alert issued by the embassy earlier this week noted a rise in vehicle-related break-ins and advised visitors to “always lock doors and roll up windows completely, even when in the vehicle.”

The U.S. State Department announced a new round of sanctions on Thursday, stating that “the Communist Cuban regime continues to pose a deep, multifaceted threat to U.S. national security and our hemisphere’s stability.”

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla stated in a social media post after the announcement, “Collective punishment is a crime.” Inflicting suffering on an entire population through measures that are coldly calculated to provoke a humanitarian crisis is equally concerning.