Letter to the Editor

 

 

TECHNICAL BASES FOR RISK ANALYSIS OF ZOONOTIC AND fOODBORNE DISEASES ASSOCIATED TO NATURAL DISASTERS IN A COMMUNITY OF HAVANA CITY

 

 

A study about the technical bases for risk analysis of zoonotic diseases transmitted by foods after the occurrence of disasters caused by hurricanes or intense rains on the human and animal population was carried out in a community of Havana city.

Two data bases concerning zoonotic and foodborne diseases associated to natural disasters such as hurricanes and intense rains were designed.

The relative incidence of zoonotic diseases in the period (1995-2003) was determined, being Leptospirosis the most frequent in animals and human beings as well. The behaviour of the diseases transmitted by food (ETA) was valued during the period 1998 - 2003 and the principal agents isolated were Staphilococcus aureus, Samonella dublin and Escherichia coli.

All the fallen intense rains were associated to the hurricanes occurred in this period. A direct correlation between the outbreak of Leptospirosis in the territory with the rain volume was demonstrated. It was r = 0.7732, indicating a positive and a fair relation between both variables. It is something that did not happen with the foodborne disease, which is explained by the fact that it was not diagnosed or reported.

 

 

Dra. Maylin Soca MSc ⁽¹⁾, Dra. Yolanda Suárez DrC ⁽¹⁾, Dra. Mildrey Soca DrC⁽²⁾, Dra. Beatriz Amaro MSc ⁽³⁾, Dra. M.V Adriana Romero⁽⁴⁾, Dra. Maritza Fuentes MSc ⁽¹⁾ y Dra. Raisa Barrios ⁽¹⁾

⁽¹⁾ Veterinary Medicine Faculty, Agricultural University of Havana. Cuba. ⁽²⁾ Experimental Station of Grasses and Forages "Indio Hatuey". Matanzas. ⁽³⁾ Veterinay Services of Havana city. ⁽⁴⁾ Public Health Services of Havana city.