The recent outbreak of swine flu—so far most serious in Mexico but also in the United States and several other countries—is causing global concern, and Cuba is taking its own precautions to try to make sure the illness does not reach the island. The state is limiting flights to Mexico (there are usually 4 flights daily), questioning passengers that do arrive from Mexico and checking them for signs of illness during their visit to Cuba, and monitoring pigs themselves for symptoms. Cuba has ordered disease specialists and civil defense authorities to be vigilant in preventing an outbreak on the island.
Granma, Cuba’s national newspaper, held details on the front page of precautions being taken.
The high level of interconnection between and among countries today is fascinating in its dangerousness here: it means that even Cuba, an island that is relatively isolated both due to geography and due to the U.S. embargo, has need to take immediate steps to protect itself from a health security concern that at this point lies at least 117 miles away.
