Cuba Treats Fifth Swine Flu Case

HAVANA TIMES, June 7 — A Canadian tourist, 62, was the fifth person detected with the A (H1N1) virus in Cuba as she arrived at the airport in Santiago de Cuba from Toronto. Cuban health authorities said Sunday that the patient is under treatment and evolving favorably.

Cuba has set up sophisticated fever detection equipment at airports with the goal of analyzing and assisting passengers presenting symptoms.

The Canadian, who arrived on June 2, is under care at Santiago’s Juan Bruno Zayas Provincial Hospital.

Cuban health authorities continue to advise the population on the importance of personal and collective hygiene. Health care units are also carrying out special vigilance in their corresponding communities including a close watch on persons with persistent respiratory symptoms or other chronic diseases.

There are no cases to date of the Swine Flu virus among the Cuban population. The previous four cases, three Mexican medical students and a Canadian child were all treated and released from the hospital.

As the weekend began, a total of some 22,000 Swine Flu cases have been detected in 69 countries, the majority of which have been mild.