Because of its geographical position, the impact of climate change, constant exchange with foreign countries, primarily developing countries, growth in international trade and the arrival of travelers from areas of risk, Cuba is not an exception.

Given the challenge this represents, the country has a very well organized system of quick response, and the agencies and institutions are prepared to cope with emergency situations, said Dr. Manuel Santin, national director of epidemiology at the Ministry of Public Health (Minsap).

The island, with a health system of universal coverage that is free, integrated, regionalized and divided into a network of units, has preparedness plans at all three levels of care.

Intensive therapy locals for health emergencies with trained staff and facilities in all municipalities, human resources plans to meet the demands and a national program for prevention and control of contagious diseases, are also enabled.

The integrated surveillance system is able to timely detect the movement of pathogens, such as Chikungunya, a condition known in Africa since about three decades ago, but emerging recently in the region.

In this regard, Santin told Prensa Latina that the island is ready to serve the population that may be affected by this disease transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, both present in the nation. There are diagnostic means and trained personnel, he said.

He explained that the condition is very similar to dengue; it is characterized by sudden on set of fever, usually accompanied by joint pain.

Other common signs and symptoms include headache, nausea, fatigue and rash. The joint pains are often very debilitating, but they usually disappear within a few days.

He noted that there are other risk scenarios, for instance, in Africa at present Ebola outbreaks are reported, and given the constant arrival of travelers, increase of tourism and international trade, as well as the permanence of collaborative missions, among other factors, epidemiological surveillance must be kept.

Otherwise, Santin said the conditions favoring the development of epidemics, such as high virulence and potential for dissemination of the microbe, high capacity of transmission, adaptation and change, breach of health and safety measures, growing interrelationship between man and wild domestic animals.

He also referred to the factors to be controlled to prevent disease outbreaks, including active search of cases, isolation of patients, control of patients and carriers, hand washing after using the toilet and before handling and eating, and health education actions.

Finally, he mentioned some measures to maintain and improve the health facing epidemics, healthy lifestyles, personal, and collective hygiene, food hygiene, immunization, chemoprophylaxis and quarantine, plus campaigns and programs for prevention and control of diseases.

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