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No cases of Ebola in Cuba
Dr. Manuel Santín, national director of the Ministry
of Public Health (MINSAP) epidemiology department
reported on August 16, in Havana, that no cases of
the viral infection Ebola (EVE) had been detected on
the island.
Santín stated at a press conference that 1,711 cases
and 932 deaths from the serious illness, previously
known as hemorrhagic fever, have been reported in
Guinea, Sierra Leona, Liberia and Nigeria. Victims
of the disease face a mortality rate of 90%.
Spreading of the outbreak in West Africa, within and
between affected countries continues due to a high
level of traffic across borders; problems in
identification of those who come in contact with the
virus; less than optimal preventative measures and
treatment of the infected; and the existence of
undetected transmission routes.
The MINSAP expert clarified that, although Cuba does
not have direct flights from any of the countries
affected, international visitors traveling by air
could introduce the virus. Measures have therefore
been taken by Cuban authorities, to respond to such
an event, he said.
Dr. Santín reiterated the importance of knowing the
characteristic symptoms of the illness, which has an
incubation period of two to 21 days, with an average
of eight to 10. Awareness is also being promoted of
how the virus is transmitted and measures taken to
strengthen vigilance, he reported.
The doctor emphasized that Cuban collaborators in
the affected countries are not working in areas
where the virus has been reported, although
individual hygienic measures, such as the use of
protective masks, coats and gloves, are being taken.
Collaborators who are in Cuba on vacation have spent
time in quarantine and are being carefully watched
to prevent the entry of the disease into the
country.
Dr. Santín commented that the world is facing many
new risks, from climate change to multiple cholera
and AIDS epidemics. Cuba is preparing to respond to
these problems, and has a well-organized
epidemiological vigilance system, he said.
Also speaking with the press was Dr. Jorge Pérez,
director of the Pedro Kourí Tropical Medicine
Institute (IPK), who explained that the first EVE
outbreak was detected in 1976 in Congo, and that
bats are natural carriers of the virus, while other
infections have been traced to gorillas and
chimpanzees.
The IPK scientist said that the principal mode of
human-to-human transmission is direct contact with
bodily fluids (blood, sweat, mother’s milk, semen,
etc), and insisted that those with symptoms such as
fever, headache or chills should seek medical
attention, since an EVE infection may be confused
with another less serious illness. (AIN)
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