The U.S. Embassy in Cuba issued a travel health warning on September 4th, alerting American citizens who are already in Cuba or planning to visit the country to be cautious as the collapse of the water and electricity grid systems in Cuba is causing a significant increase in gastrointestinal diseases.
According to the U.S. Embassy, as the condition of water supply and energy infrastructure continues to deteriorate, there has been a notable rise in cases of diarrheal diseases throughout various regions of Cuba. The degradation of infrastructure has affected water supply systems, food storage, and temperature control, leading to an increase in infections of gastrointestinal pathogens such as E. coli, norovirus, and Shigella.
The Embassy urges American citizens in Cuba to exercise caution when handling improperly stored meats, poultry, seafood, eggs, dairy products, and other perishable foods.
It is advised to avoid consuming food that has been left at room temperature for extended periods, to refrain from eating raw or improperly washed vegetables, and to be vigilant before consuming reheated cooked food that has been cooled down.
Furthermore, it is recommended to wash hands frequently and ensure an adequate intake of fluids. In case of persistent or severe diarrhea, bloody stools, high fever, significant abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, signs of dehydration, or if symptoms do not improve, seeking medical attention promptly is advised.
On August 28th, U.S. Embassy officials also issued a warning stating that the water supply infrastructure in Cuba is becoming increasingly unstable, with some communities reporting prolonged water outages. Often, residential areas only receive water when there is a sufficient duration of city power supply.
Officials from the U.S. Embassy pointed out that the water supply issues and power outages are due to mismanagement of public infrastructure by the communist regime in Cuba.
The original news article titled ‘US Embassy Issues Health Alert for Cuba After ‘Significant Increase in Diarrheal Illness’ was published in the English edition of Epoch Times.