Increase in hepatitis cases reported in Havana

FROM CUBA
Increase in hepatitis cases reported in Havana

HAVANA, Cuba - August 15 (José Antonio Fornaris, Cuba-Verdad /
www.cubanet.org) - With nearly 300 cases of hepatitis reported thus far
this year, doctors say the disease is on the upswing; new cases during
the last two weeks were reported to exceed 70.

Health authorities said that they were considering bringing judicial
proceedings against patients who do not observe the prescribed rest
periods after being diagnosed with the disease, contributing to its
spread, but doctors said the disease is mostly spread through
water-borne pathogens.

Several months back health authorities were operating under the
assumption that students suffering from the disease were a primary
source of infection when their parents sent them back to school before
they fully recovered, but the school year ended more than 30 days back
without any abatement in the rate of infection.

Last Monday, health officials in the Managua health clinic were unable
to perform diagnostic tests on suspected cases of hepatitis because the
required instrument was out of order.

http://www.cubanet.org/CNews/y06/ago06/30e9.htm