Tips and recommendations for healthy travel to top destinations
Learn more about your flu vaccine options
Learn more about the travel visa requirements for top destinations
On white sand beaches, the sounds of salsa and rumba glide through the air alongside a tropical mix of smells, making Cuba a very unique destination. The largest island nation in the Caribbean is home to a rich culture and offers travelers amazing opportunities to learn, explore and have fun.
Since Cuba recently started opening for American travelers, there have been a lot of questions regarding what people need to do in order to prepare for a trip to the island that is less than 100 miles away from the United States. Though exact entry procedure has not been set, anyone can start preparing their health starting now!
Cuba may have been isolated from the United States for the last 55 years, but Cuba has not been isolated from the world. The country is generally well developed and has a comprehensive healthcare system that has helped eliminate many diseases that still persist in other parts of the Caribbean. Vaccination has been key in this initiative but has been unable to eliminate some diseases, specifically typhoid and hepatitis A.
Foodborne infections are still an issue in the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends avoiding unpasteurized foods, street vendors and drinking tap or well water. Bringing a traveler’s diarrhea kit is also recommended.
The CDC and other sources show Cuba as malaria-free, but mosquitoes are still present, and a few cases of imported Chikungunya were identified in 2014, although none have been reported this year. However, Dengue fever is endemic to the island. DEET-based mosquito repellents are recommended as well as the use of bed nets if sleeping outdoors.
Yes, some vaccines are recommended or required for Cuba. The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccines for Cuba: typhoid, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and influenza.
The sights and sounds of Havana are known throughout the world. The award-winning novelist Ernest Hemingway used to visit the city often, and he spent large amounts of time on the island in general. The city is known for having amazing beaches and a nightlife like nothing seen in most other places. That being said, there is still a need to be cautious.
Beach time is a must if traveling to Cuba. Be sure to use sunscreen that is at least SPF 15 and protects against UVA and UVB rays. Sunglasses that protect against those rays are also suggested.
If traveling to rural areas, a rabies vaccination may also be recommended depending on the activities you may be involved in including: outdoor and other activities that put travelers at risk for animal bites, work with or around animals and extended trips to Cuba.
INFLUENZA WorldwideJuly '17 – According to the CDC, annual vaccination against seasonal influenza is recommended for all people 6-months of age and older. Globally, influenza activity is low in most regions. In North America, influenza activity continues to decrease. In Europe, influenza activity continues to decrease in most countries. In northern Africa and the Middle East, influenza activity continues to decrease or remained low in most countries; however activity remained high in Jordan and Turkey. In the temperate countries of Asia, influenza activity continued to decrease, but continues to remain high in the Republic of Korea. In tropical countries of the Americas, influenza activity remains low in most countries. In tropical Asia, influenza activity began to decline in India but continued to decrease in southern China and Hong Kong SAR. In tropical Africa, influenza activity increased in western Africa, however Madagascar reported declining influenza activity. Lastly, in the southern hemisphere influenza activity remains at inter-seasonal levels. Sources Include: International Society for Infectious Diseases, Center for Disease Control and World Health Organization.
CHOLERA in CubaJuly '17 – Cholera is a bacterial disease that can cause diarrhea and dehydration. Cholera is most often spread through the ingestion of contaminated food or drinking water. Although cholera is preventable, an estimated 3 to 5 million cases and over 100,000 deaths occur each year around the world. Cholera is common in many Sub-Saharan African countries. Passport Health offers products for water purification and electrolyte replacement; precautions for food and water are covered in the travel consultation. Recently, the following places have reported cases and/or deaths due to cholera: In Africa: Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda. Tanzania alone has seen 4,835 cases, including 68 deaths in its most recent outbreak. In Asia: India and Syria. In the Americas: The last confirmed cholera case in Cuba was reported in a Canadian Traveler returning from Cuba in January 2015. In the Dominican Republic, since the beginning of the epidemic (November 2010), more than 32,200 suspected cholera cases have been reported, including more than 480 deaths. Since the beginning of 2015, more than 180 suspected cases, including 9 deaths, have been reported; this is an increase of cases compared to the same period last year. In Haiti, since the beginning of the epidemic (October 2010), more than 734,000 cholera cases have been reported, of which more than 50% were hospitalized and more than 8,700 have died. Since the beginning of 2015, there have been more than 10,300 cases, including 106 fatalities; the number of cases and deaths reported in 2015 are already higher than those reported during the same period last year. In 2014, Mexico reported 14 cases from two states (Hidalgo and Querétaro). Since the beginning of 2015, there have been no new cholera cases registered. Sources Include: International Society for Infectious Diseases, Center for Disease Control, Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization.
DENGUE FEVER in CubaJuly '17 - Dengue Fever cases have been on the rise worldwide. According to WHO, incidence of dengue has increased 30 fold in the past 50 years. WHO estimates over 2.5 billion people are now at risk of dengue and there are about 50-100 million dengue infections worldwide every year. According to the CDC, dengue fever is the most common cause of fever in travelers who return from South Central Asia, Central America and the Caribbean. Sources Include: International Society for Infectious Diseases, Center for Disease Control and World Health Organization.
MEASLES WorldwideJuly '17 - Health officials in France and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have reported an outbreak of measles. You can get measles primarily by breathing in airborne particles that contain the virus. Symptoms of measles are rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. The best protection against measles is through vaccination. SOURCES: CDC
ZIKA VIRUS in CubaJuly '17 - Zika fever was originally detected in Africa, however an increasing number of cases have been detected in the Americas. Brazil, Colombia, and the Caribbean have been the hardest hit so far, but the disease is spreading rapidly. On Dec. 31 2015, Puerto Rico reported its first case of the disease in a resident who had not traveled outside of the island. Multiple cases have been detected in the United States in travelers from other regions. A few instances of local transmission are under investigation in Florida. Multiple cases of infant microcephaly have been reported in the U.S. Specific areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing are often difficult to determine and are likely to continue to change over time. Zika fever is a viral illness similar to dengue fever, yellow fever, and Japanese encephalitis. It is spread though mosquito bites and mosquitoes carrying the virus can bite during the day and at night. Symptoms of zika fever include high temperature, headache, red eyes, skin rash, muscle aches, and joint pains. Those traveling to the South or Central America or the Caribbean should take extra precautions in order to avoid the mosquito-borne disease including using mosquito repellents, mosquito netting and protective clothing. Sources Include: International Society for Infectious Diseases, Center for Disease Control and World Health Organization.
For more information on notices, or to find out if where you are going may be affected, please see our Health Alerts map:
