We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. This should cover medical evacuation by air ambulance. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.
The medical facilities in Havana are better than those elsewhere in the country, but it is sometimes necessary for those requiring urgent specialist care to be medically evacuated at significant cost. If you require medical treatment you will be expected to pay in hard currency; a basic hospital stay can cost as much as £200 per day plus medical expenses.
Many medicines are unavailable in Cuba so you should bring any prescription drugs you take regularly. A copy of the prescription and a letter from your doctor explaining your condition can be helpful at customs.
Though most of the more serious tropical diseases are rare in Cuba, viral meningitis and dengue fever do occasionally break out both in Havana and in other provinces of Cuba. According to media reports, in August and September 2006, there has been an increase in the number of dengue fever cases reported in Havana and also in the cities of Moron and Ciego de Avila (central Cuba). There is no vaccine to protect against dengue fever and you should therefore use mosquito repellent regularly and cover up with suitable clothing to avoid being bitten. Symptoms of dengue fever usually begin 7 to 10 days after being bitten and include high fever with aching joints and bones and a headache. If you develop these symptoms you should consult a doctor. Hepatitis A is common, particularly in the summer and immunoglobulin is not readily available.
The HIV/AIDS virus is less acutely prevalent in Cuba than in other parts of the Caribbean. Nonetheless, you should continue to take sensible precautions to avoid exposure to it.
You should seek medical advice before travelling and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date. For further information on health, check the Department of Health’s website at:
www.dh.gov.uk
Cuba is vulnerable to the hurricanes that blow through the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico from June to November each year. Good warning is given and due precautions must be taken but in the aftermath power, communications and water supplies can be disrupted for a week or more. Even in holiday resorts, utility services cannot be constantly guaranteed. Damage to infrastructure in affected areas can take some time to be repaired. In the event of extreme weather conditions flights to and from Cuba could be delayed or cancelled.
