HAVANA, Cuba - THOUGH the Caribbean had been one of the final bastions in the Americas void of influenza A(H1N1), commonly referred to as Swine Flu, a confirmed case in Cuba was reported yesterday (May 11) in the local media.
Despite Cuba being one of the few nations in the world to enact strict travel restrictions since the rampant global spread of influenza A(H1N1), a group of Mexican students who were visiting their home during vacation were allowed into the country on April 25, four days before the travel restriction was enacted.
News reports out of the country indicate that a small group of students were detained in quarantine for “flu-like symptoms” upon returning to Cuba to continue their studies in a province east of Havana. Many of the students were released shortly after being detained and one of these persons is believed to be the confirmed case of influenza A(H1N1).
The Associated Press reported that 84 tests for “swine flu” have been carried out at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Havana, though only the one case has been confirmed at this time.
It was also reported that testing would continue in Cuba as the travel ban has been largely removed at this time, though some flights to Cancun and Mexico City have been inexplicably cancelled before takeoff.
The latest update from the World Health Organisation indicates that 5 251 cases of influenza A(H1N1) have been confirmed globally, with 61 of those resulting in death.
The hardest hit region has been North and Central America, with Mexico, the United States and Canada reporting 4 989 of the total confirmed cases.
Currently, St. Kitts-Nevis and the Eastern Caribbean remain unaffected by the disease, thanks to continued proactive measures by local Ministries of Health and the monitoring of ports of entry.
Cuba News