Cuba Stregthens Epidemic Controls at Its Borders

HAVANA, Cuba, April 30 (acn) “In view of the spread of the swine flu over many countries, Cuba has tightened up the epidemiological controls at its borders, ports, docks, and airports,” said Ángel Manuel Álvarez Valdés, head of International Health Control Program of the Public
Health Ministry.

The official told Granma newspaper that the country has the qualified personnel and the necessary means to isolate and take travelers who are potential suspects of being infected with this highly contagious influenza to health facilities. The disease is caused by a virus that,
according to the World Health Organization, “had been never seen before,” he noted.

Dr. Álvarez Valdés said that as part of the increase in international health control, the personnel are constantly briefed with the latest information on the world behavior and development of the disease. At the same time, “health briefings” are carried out with all the workers at
airports and ports, in order to increase general awareness.

Those in charge of international epidemiological control will be also informed if there’s anything suspicious related to the passengers before sea or air transport reaches Cuban soil. Upon their arrival, travelers will have to sign a Health Declaration stating their country and city of
departure, whether they have had symptoms of the disease in the last ten days, and whether they have been in contact or not with people infected.

The head of the International Health Control Program of the Ministry of Health said that “This ‘bulwark’ of our national health system is ready to timely and efficiently fight any eventuality on our borders.”

(Reforzada vigilancia epidemiológica en fronteras)