Fidel Castro defends Cuba's response to swine flu outbreak, says US embargo blocks medicine

Fidel Castro defends Cuba's response to swine flu outbreak, says US
embargo blocks medicine

ANITA SNOW | Associated Press Writer
6:03 PM EDT, May 14, 2009

HAVANA (AP) — Fidel Castro defended Havana's response to the swine flu
outbreak, including suspension of direct flights with Mexico, saying
Thursday that Cuba is especially vulnerable to an epidemic because the
U.S. embargo prevents it from buying medicine and diagnostic equipment.

Cuba, which confirmed its first case of swine flu this week, has not
said if it has access to Tamiflu. But the World Health Organization says
it sent 2.4 million treatments of the anti-flu treatment to 72
developing countries last week.

"What does one of these epidemics mean to Cuba?" Castro said in an essay
read on state television. "Our country has no access to buy whatever
medicine, raw materials or equipment or components for diagnostic
equipment produced by U.S. transnational companies."

Mexican authorities were offended when Castro accused Mexico of waiting
to disclose the epidemic until after President Barack Obama visited in
mid-April — even though Canadian and U.S. scientists did not identify
the virus in Mexican patients until a week later.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon has said he may cancel a planned a
trip to Cuba this year because the island grounded flights to and from
Mexico.

"Why accuse us of being enemies of the Mexican people when we adopt
measures that have been put together beforehand to protect our people?"
Castro asked.

More than 6,600 cases of swine flu have been reported in 33 countries
worldwide, with 69 deaths.

Fidel Castro defends Cuba's response to swine flu outbreak, says US
embargo blocks medicine -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com (15 May 2009)

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/cuba/sns-ap-cb-cuba-swine-flu,0,5075423.story