By María Josefina Arce

Cuba's health authorities are keeping a watchful eye on the increase of cholera cases in other countries in the region to prevent the entry of this disease, which can cause death in a matter of hours if left untreated, into the national territory.
   
Surveillance has been reinforced in air and sea terminals, a mechanism that is activated whenever illnesses that represent a threat to public health are reported in other states.
   
Let us remember, for example, that since the first cases of COVID 19 appeared in the world, control over travelers arriving at air and sea terminals was immediately strengthened in our country.
    
Although the surveillance system is active throughout the archipelago, emphasis has been placed on areas such as the eastern province of Guantanamo due to its proximity to Haiti, where since last year there has been a resurgence of the disease that has spread at a dizzying pace.
    
According to the authorities, those who arrive in that province are subjected to chemoprophylaxis, with a dose of doxycycline, as part of the international sanitary control.
   
Likewise, in the event of any possible symptom of this disease, the rapid response system for outbreak control is implemented and a rapid test is carried out.
    
It should be clarified that no cases of this disease have been reported in our country so far, although Cuban health personnel, who provided assistance to Haiti in 2010 when cholera broke out months after the strong earthquake that devastated that Caribbean nation, are aware of it.
    
The work carried out by doctors and nurses from the largest of the Antilles was highlighted by local authorities and international organizations, which emphasized their presence in the most remote and difficult parts of the Haitian geography.
   
Cuba, which had already been providing solidarity aid to Haiti before the earthquake, reported the first cases and was the first nation to offer more health personnel, in response to the UN's call.
   
In the centers administered by the Cubans, the authorities acknowledged, the lowest mortality rate of the whole country was registered.
    
Now, as on previous occasions, when faced with the appearance or increase of cases of certain diseases, Cuba remains vigilant and does not lower its guard to protect the population.