Cuban Cholera Outbreak Causes Canada Health Advisory – UPDATE

Cuban Cholera Outbreak Causes Canada Health Advisory – UPDATE
Posted by Staff on Jul 15th, 2012 // No Comment

Canada Issues Travel Advisory for Cuban Cholera Outbreak

Canada, which does not have the travel ban on Cuban travel as does the
United States, has issued a travel advisory to its citizens
contemplating travel to the island nation.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is warning travelers about the
outbreak of cholera in Cuba, a destination that's long been popular with
Canadian tourists.

"The Ministry of Public Health in Cuba has reported an increase in the
number of cases of illness with diarrhea in some areas of the country
due to high temperatures and heavy rainfall," the agency says in a
notice published to its website Wednesday afternoon.
Canada Issues Travel Advisory for Cuban Cholera Outbreak

Canada Issues Travel Advisory for Cuban Cholera Outbreak

Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio
cholerae. People usually become infected from drinking or eating
contaminated water or food. It is associated with watery diarrhea and
rapid dehydration, which can be life-threatening.

The basic preventative measures are: avoid eating salads or raw
vegetables, raw or under-cooked meat especially sea food, and drink only
bottled water, and avoid ice cubes unless it can be verified they were
made from water that was previously boiled to kill any bacteria.

The official death toll from the cholera outbreak currently remains at
three, though independent sources are reporting higher figures.

The investigation is ongoing as measures of prevention and control
continue to be implemented.

Over a million Canadians visited Cuba in 2011. It is the leading source
of tourism to the island.

http://www.ecanadanow.com/canada/2012/07/15/canada-issues-travel-advisory-for-cuban-cholera-outbreak/