Cuba remains vigilant in the face of measles cases in the Americas.

By María Josefina Arce

PAHO, the Pan American Health Organization, has issued an epidemiological alert in recent days due to the identification of cases of measles in the Americas, a highly contagious viral disease that mainly affects children and can cause serious complications.

According to the health organization, more than 14,000 suspected cases of measles have been reported in the region as of October 5 this year.

PAHO called on the authorities of the countries in the region to intensify their surveillance and vaccination efforts, a strategy that Cuba has maintained even in the face of the adverse conditions imposed on the Cuban people by the U.S. blockade.

Since 1993, this disease has been eliminated from Cuban territory, thanks to the efforts of the health authorities, who remain vigilant to the possible presence of cases in the country.

These efforts have included systematic vaccination campaigns that have been carried out in the Caribbean nation for more than six decades.

Cuba has a national vaccination program, free and universal, which has made it possible to eradicate measles in our country and prevent other diseases from becoming a health problem.

Throughout these years, the Greater Antilles has benefited from the invaluable support of UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, which has contributed to the acquisition of cold chain equipment, essential medical supplies and the strengthening of the technical capacity of health professionals.

No child on Cuban soil was left without protection against measles. Even during the COVID 19 pandemic in the country, the immunization process was not interrupted.

The vaccination campaign was carried out with all the necessary measures to avoid infecting children and family members with the corona virus.

Cuba has never left its children unprotected against various diseases. Now, in the face of the PAHO alert, it is redoubling its epidemiological surveillance to detect possible cases of a disease that can even cause death.