Cuban Expert Alerts on Cholera Threat

A Cuban expert at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology warned Thursday about the presence of cholera in Latin America, a condition called old but reemerging. "We have not eliminated the cholera, but we will try at least to mitigate," said the specialist on waterborne diseases Maria Isabel Rodriguez, during a lecture at Cubagua 2015, an event in session at the Convention Center in Havana.

Rodriguez called the attention on the presence in the Caribbean of most dangerous forms of acute diarrheal disease, which is sometimes fatal, such as Matlab Types 1 to 3 and others, circulating in Asia and Africa.

The Cuban expert mentioned among disease enhancers, climate variability and sanitary conditions of a territory, a feature that is associated with the levels of economic and social development.

Until adequate sanitation is guaranteed, cholera will be lurking, she said.

Referring to the surveillance of the waters in Cuba, Rodriguez said that was strengthened in 2010 following the outbreak in Haiti.

The forum, which will conclude tomorrow, it brings together more than 600 experts and entrepreneurs from 22 countries.