Fidel Castro: Cuba's swine flu from US tourists

As most of the world deals with the growing H1N1 Swine Flu pandemic, Cuba’s cases are increasing by the day but former President Fidel Castro is blaming tourists from the United States, according to the Associated Press. TMC Net reports Castro stating, “When the current U.S. president raised restrictions on Cuban-Americans traveling to Cuba, the epidemic had already reached a great number of states in that nation. Thus it happened that the four countries generating the most tourism and travel for other reasons to our country were those that, to a high degree, were suffering from the epidemic.” The former 83-year-old leader published an op-ed piece in all state media and has said that President Barack Obama’s decision to lax restrictions on Cuban-Americans to enter the island has increased the number of Swine Flu cases in his country and will continue to persist. He also added that the US trade embargo has prevented Cuba from purchasing the proper medical equipment needed to combat H1N1. “We had the strange case where the United States on one hand authorized more trips for a large number of people carrying the virus, and on the other prohibited us from obtaining equipment and medicine to combat the virus.” So far, the number of Swine Flu cases in Cuba is sitting at 800, which includes seven deaths. Majority of the early cases came from foreign visitors. Nevertheless, he doesn’t believe that it’s a conspiracy nor was it the intention of the US government, “But this is the reality resulting from the absurd and shameful blockade.” As the BBC notes, Margaret Chan, head of the World Health Organization, was in Cuba last week and assured officials and Cubans that they will receive the Swine Flu vaccinations within a month. At first, many Cuban leaders were pessimistic about the cost and effectiveness of the vaccine but have generally agreed accepting the vaccinations.