Cuba Controls Dengue, Transmissible Diseases

Havana, Sep 12. -The Pan-American Health Organization acknowledged Cuba, Chile and Uruguay as the three countries in the region where dengue is not an endemic disease because of their healthcare systems and active community participation.
Cuban health authorities say there are no cases of autochthonous dengue outbreaks, and 21 dengue cases reported had been brought into the country by travellers from countries where the disease is endemic. The patients were treated in a timely manner, they said.

In addition to medical services for patients, Cuba has carried out epidemiological control and vector monitoring actions as stipulated by rapid-response programs for viral epidemics.

Cuba has made the necessary investment to develop such actions systematically and with the participation of experts and technicians, Granma newspaper reported.

Hygiene and epidemiology experts from the Public Health Ministry told reporters that nearly 26 transmissible diseases had been totally eliminated or were under control in Cuba.

Malaria, cholera, West Nile virus, yellow fever, Chagas diseases, dengue, human rabies, typhoid, meningeal tuberculosis, measles, whooping cough, rubella, poliomyelitis and diphtheria are all controlled diseases.

Also on the list are brucellosis, meningitis meningococcica BC, meningitis, pneumonia to Haemophilus Influenzae Type B, leptospirosis, Hepatitis B, mumps, post-mumps syndrome, adult tetanus, child AIDS and congenital syphilis. (Prensa Latina)