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The Canadian government has updated its travel precautions for Cuba to include a warning regarding the emerging chikungunya outbreak.
“The destinations listed below are reporting a higher number of chikungunya cases than expected: Bangladesh, China (Guangdong Province), Cuba, Madagascar, Kenya, Somalia, and Sri Lanka,” reads an update from November 18 published on the official Global Affairs Canada website.
In its travel recommendations for Cuba, the Canadian government advises its travelers that "the availability of good healthcare is limited."
"Medical professionals are usually well-trained. However, the facilities are in poor condition. They lack basic medications, medical supplies, and equipment. Hygiene practices may be inadequate," they explain.
The recommendation specifies that "medical services are offered in most hotels and international clinics located in tourist areas, where doctors and nurses provide initial emergency medical care reserved for foreigners."
"The healthcare provided in these clinics is often better than that offered in public centers," they emphasize.
They also warn Canadian tourists that "mental health services are extremely limited. There are no hotline services for this type of care in the country."
“Emergency services and ambulances are limited. Response times can be slow, especially outside of tourist areas,” they add
In October, the Canadian government had issued its latest travel advisory warning its citizens about the risks associated with the imminent arrival of Hurricane Melissa.
The recommendation advised travelers to "maintain a high degree of caution" due to the combination of food, medicine, and fuel shortages, along with extreme weather conditions that could severely impact essential services on the island.
Since September, for its part, the Canadian government has issued alerts regarding the serious energy crisis and supply shortages affecting the island, as well as risks related to public safety, transportation, and connectivity.
Cuba welcomed 2.1 million travelers by October, far from last year's figures.
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