Cuba strengthens epidemiologic monitoring to avoid Zika virus entry

Cuba strengthens epidemiologic monitoring to avoid Zika virus entry
Fecha de publicación: 
12 February 2016
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Cuba has strengthened the epidemiologic monitoring in 24 entry sites in its borders with the goal of detecting possible Zika virus cases. Nonetheless, local health authorities have not reported any cases so far.

In 10 airports, 14 harbors and international marina, travelers and every person visiting the area will be subjected to body temperature controls and will fill a visitor’s form.

Body temperature controls will be carried out by scanners installed in those Cuban borders check points, said the head of health control of the Cuba’s Ministry of Public Health Carmelo Trujillo.

The specialist added that if any person has some fever when arriving at the country, he or she will be admitted in a hospital to carry out the required studies to determine the diagnosis and suggest a proper treatment according to the disease.

He also noted that Cuba’s personnel have been well trained. Cuban doctors are notified with updated information on the international epidemiologic situation and particularly, the status of transmittable diseases such as Zika, chikungunya, and dengue fever in Latin America.

In early February, the Ministry of Public Health reported that Cuba had adopted several measures to avoid the entrance of Zika virus in the island, and stated that there were no cases detected.

Cuba also reported that Zika virus is transmitted by the biting of mosquito “Aedes Aegypti” and “Aedes Albopictus”, both present in the Caribbean island.

The WHO declared —on February 1— a health emergency of global reach due to the increasing cases of microcephalia in newborns in Brazil. There is not proven relationship between Zika virus and this illness, though.

Cubasi Translation Staff

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