MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Cuba reports cholera outbreak with 163 cases, mostly in Havana

Local authorities told PAHO outbreaks were linked to food distribution centres (Pic EFE)

Cuba has reported a new cholera outbreak with 163 cases, 12 of whom are tourists, though no deaths were mentioned, according to a bulletin from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO. The update from 23 August is based on information provided by epidemiological authorities on the island.

Cuban authorities have yet to report publicly the number of cases though on Tuesday a pro-government blogger known as Yohandry quoted on the web the PAHO information which refers to the outbreak in the provinces of Havana, Santiago de Cuba and Camaguey.

Cuban officials told PAHO that “in the course of this year suspected cases were regularly diagnosed.”

“The cases registered in Havana were linked to two food-distribution centres, where the presence of asymptomatic carriers was found among those handling food supplies,” the note said.

The Cuban Health Ministry’s last public report on cholera was issued in January, after an outbreak was detected in Havana with 50 cases confirmed.

Cuba had a record of 50 years without any cholera cases until August 2012 when it reappeared, chiefly in the eastern region of the country with three deaths reported and 417 people infected, according to official data.