Cuba deploys 9,000 troops to fight Zika virus

Cuban President Raul Castro on Monday dispatched 9,000 soldiers to help keep the Zika virus out of the country, calling on all Cubans to strengthen sanitation efforts to prevent the spread of the disease.

Wearing smoke helmets and masks, soldiers were seen disinfecting every corner in the capital Havana.

Most of residents appeared cooperative and waited outside for the fumigation work to end.

“The government gave us a booklet, telling us today they would go to us for disinfection. We could not say no. They have to do it door to door,” said Misela Petancur Mauli, a Havana resident.

Soldier Tennis Alejendro Funtaineris fumigated dozens of households in the morning. He said the one-month operation will cover every corner of the city.

“We will do it for a month. And we will do fumigation in every street. Today we are in the district of Belen, and tomorrow we will go to another district. We will fumigate in different districts every day,” he said.

Although there is no treatment or vaccine for the mosquito-borne virus, locals are not worried about the outbreak because they believe the Cuban government and medical system have the ability to deal with it.

“We’re not scared of Zika virus. Because Cuba is very strong in medical treatment. We’re not too concerned about all diseases in Cuba and other countries in the world. We’ve got enough preparation in these years for any disease,” said Juan Alberto Ramon, a local resident.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of the rapid spread of the Zika virus which affected 32 countries in Latin America, declaring it a public health emergency.