Cuban Blindness
Diary of a Mysterious Epidemic Neuropathy

A firsthand account of the neurological epidemic and subsequent study undertaken to identify the cause of the disease that affected Cuba in 1993-1994

Gustavo C. Román (Author)

9780128040836, Elsevier Science

Hardback, published 27 November 2015

222 pages
22.9 x 15.1 x 2 cm, 0.5 kg

On May 4, 1993, Cuba asked the international health community and the World Health Organization (WHO) to find the cause of a mysterious epidemic of blindness that was spreading uncontrollably. Contradictory hypotheses confronted the team of scientists on this mission. Is the epidemic the result of a plot to topple Castro, as the Cubans believe? Or exposure to radioactivity or an unidentified nerve toxin accidentally released by the Russian Army withdrawing from Cuba?Cuban Blindness: Diary of a Mysterious Epidemic Neuropathy is a firsthand account of the epidemic of blindness and the hardships of life in Cuba at the time of the "special period" that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union and the tightening of the US embargo. Dr. Román—who was at the time Chief of Neuroepidemiology at the US National Institutes of Health—was a participant in this scientific mission and describes the neurological symptoms experienced by the victims of this epidemic disease, and narrates the epidemiologists’ detective work struggling to solve the mystery. This book combines neuroscience and scientific discovery with political intrigue, finally bringing the reader to the unexpected solution provided by a WWII survivor of Changi POW Camp in Singapore. Cuban Blindness: Diary of a Mysterious Epidemic Neuropathy is a description of the neuroepidemiological study undertaken to identify the cause of the epidemic neurological disease that affected Cuba in 1993-1994.

Prologue1. Pinar Del Rio, Cuba, December 12, 19912. An Economy in Crisis Havana, November 22, 19913. Ariza Prison Cienfuegos, Cuba, August 5, 19924. The Strange Epidemic Geneva, May 4, 19935. Pan American Health Organization (Paho) Washington DC, May 10, 19936. Federal Building: Bethesda, Maryland, May 11, 19937. Neuroepidemiology, NIH: Bethesda, Maryland, May 14, 19938. Cuba: A Dream Island, May 14, 19939. A Farcical Journey Miami International Airport, May 15, 199310. In the Eye of the Storm Cuba, May 16, 199311. Epidemiologists: Medical Detectives Havana, May 17, 199312. Eye Hospital of Havana, Cuba: 7:00 AM, Monday, May 17, 199313. An Unknown Virus Pedro Kourí Tropical Medicine Institute Havana, Cuba: Tuesday, May 18, 199314. The Virologists’ Arrival: Havana - Cuba 10:00 AM, Wednesday, May 19, 199315. Mariel Thursday, May 20, 199316. Hunger Everywhere Pinar Del Río, May 20, 199317. Cassava and Cyanide Thursday, May 20, 199318. The Myelitis of Santiago De Cuba Friday, May 21, 199319. Tobacco Blindness Isla De La Juventud: May 23, 199320. Of Poisons and Warfare Toxins Havana, May 26, 199321. Three-Thousand-Five-Hundred Patients Every Week Havana, May 27, 199322. The Answer: Changi P.O.W. Camp Singapore, February 15, 194223. Blockade Amblyopia Cuba, 1897-1898 & 1991-199324. The End of the EpidemicAftermath

Subject Areas: Toxicology [non-medical PSBT], Neurosciences [PSAN], Ophthalmology [MJQ], Neurology & clinical neurophysiology [MJN]