Despite the government’s reassurance that the Cuban cholera epidemic was contained in August, new cases of the infectious disease arose over the weekend.
Over 200 prisoners were evacuated from the Boniato prison in the province of Santiago de Cuba due to an outbreak of cholera. The inmates were transferred to the Ambrosio Grillo Hospital in Malgarejo, where they now occupy eight heavily guarded rooms.
Hurricane Sandy forced the relocation of many inmates from other correctional facilities to the already overcrowded Boniato prison, which exacerbated the dismal hygienic conditions and promoted the rapid spread of Vibrio cholerae.
Similarly, the eastern province of Holguín, one of the hardest hit after Hurricane Sandy, is reporting at least 12 new cases of cholera. The likely source of the outbreak is the Sagua River, which is transporting contaminated water into town due to heavy rainfall and extensive flooding.
Neither outbreak has yet been officially confirmed by the Cuban government.
