Hello everyone,
If you are planning to travel to Cuba or you have already moved there, you are strongly advised to take note of current health hazards and take all necessary precautions.
In fact, cases of cholera and Zika virus have recently been reported in the country where dengue is also quite common. You are therefore advised to wash your hands regularly, drink bottled water only, peel fruits and vegetables before eating and consume well cooked food.
It is also recommended to wear long clothes and use mosquito repellents and electric diffusers. In case of symptoms such as severe headache or fever, seek medical care as soon as possible. Cuban hospitals provide special services to foreign nationals.
As regards cases of Zika virus, infected patients are taken care of by the Pedro Kouri Institute in Havana.
Cholera and Zika virus detected in Cuba
Very kind of you to bring this to attention.
But I have to add that no developing country including those with high prevalence of Zika has public health infrastructure as Cuba. For years Aedes Egypti brigades visit each house and look for evidence of and advice home owners how not to allow mosquito to reproduce themselves in the houses.
Also Cuba has the best Primary Health Care system possibly in the world and the populace is well educated in health.
I would like to reassure the thousands of Americans descending upon the island, as almost all restrictions have been lifted for individual travel for Americans as of this weekend, that they are visiting one of the safest and healthiest countries in the hemisphere.
Dengue is endemic to the eastern part of the island, Cuba was largely spared of Chikangunya virus which swept through the Caribbean, infecting almost every one in Jamaica.
In any case, common sense precautions are wise. No Cuban would drink tap water without boiling, neither should you.
