Official reports from Cuba this week are that a total of 373,438 Cubans have so far been immunized against the pandemic A H1N1 virus
HAVANA, Cuba, April 14 – Cuba has vaccinated one-third of its population so far in an attempt to stave off resurgence in the spread of A H1N1 during its “flu season”.
According to preliminary reports from the World Health Organisation (WHO) last week, Cuba is one of a number of Latin American countries showing signs of “localized areas of active transmission” for H1N1 within recent weeks.
In its weekly H1N1 update, the WHO reported that several countries, including Cuba, Guatemala, Peru, and Bolivia, were reporting an increased trend in respiratory diseases in association with localized to regional spread of influenza activity.
Official reports from Cuba this week are that a total of 373,438 Cubans have so far been immunized against the pandemic A H1N1 virus, which represents 33.3% of the over one million citizens who will receive this vaccine on the island.
The doses has been administered to 67,026 pregnant women and women who have recently given birth, out of the 77,674 that will be protected against this new virus. Also receiving the vaccine, besides pregnant women, are mainly young adults, children and people of all ages suffering from chronic diseases, that is, those people considered to be at higher risk.
In statements published by Granma newspaper recently, Maria Josefa Llanes, head of the National Program of Acute Respiratory Diseases of the Public Health Ministry, said that the symptoms heading the list –headache, fever and weakness- have been mild, and pointed out that the country is still in the “flu season”, during which various strains circulate, mainly that of the A H1N1.
According to the WHO, as of 4 April 2010, worldwide more than 213 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including over 17700 deaths.
