Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org The following items are taken from Radio Havana Cuba's news service for Monday, February 16, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN NEWS WEEKLY "TRABAJADORES" DENOUNCES SO-CALLED HUMANITARIAN AID FOR CUBA BY U.S. SENATOR JESSE HELMS 2.- CUBA TO INTRODUCE A VACCINE AGAINST LEPTOSPIROSIS 3.- CUBAN PRODUCTION OF LABORATORY ANIMALS THE HIGHEST IN THE THIRD WORLD 4.- "TRABAJADORES" HIGHLIGHTS 1998 CONTRIBUTION OF TOBACCO INDUSTRY TO THE NATIONAL ECONOMY 5.- TROPICANA SHOW TO TRAVEL TO GREAT BRITAIN IN MARCH 6.- UNUSUAL WIND GUSTS SWEEP CUBA SINCE SUNDAY CUBAN NEWS WEEKLY "TRABAJADORES" DENOUNCES SO-CALLED HUMANITARIAN AID FOR CUBA BY U.S. SENATOR JESSE HELMS Havana, February 16(RHC)-- The Cuban news weekly "Trabajadores" denounced today the so-called humanitarian aid for Cuba now being proposed by ultra right-wing U.S. Senator Jesse Helms and the Cuban-American National Foundation. If approved, the management of the measure -- an effort to torpedo two bills on the floor of the U.S. Congress that would authorize the free flow of food and medicine to Cuba -- would be placed in the hands of alleged religious organizations tied to right-wing political circles in the United States. But "Trabajadores" recalled the role that these groups -- like the Christian Coalition -- played in the demise of the Soviet Union, citing TV evangelists like Pat Robertson and Dan Hoddell as among the group's most prominent figures. The Cuban weekly recalled that just some weeks ago, Republican legislator Christopher Smith presented before Congress a draft bill against religious persecution. The newspaper stated that "in a demonstration of political illiteracy, Cuba was included among the nations that violate the right to worship." "Trabajadores" asserted that unlike the Soviet Union, "Cuba is not and will not be so naive as to allow so-called independent groups to come to Cuba and administer humanitarian aid." Finally, the newspaper noted that the two bills on humanitarian aid for Cuba -- sponsored by some 90 legislators and supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce -- "is not a solution to the blockade, although the initiative is noble, and merits respect and recognition." CUBA TO INTRODUCE A VACCINE AGAINST LEPTOSPIROSIS Havana, February 16(RHC)-- A Cuban vaccine against leptospirosis will soon be introduced by Cuba, after satisfactory laboratory results and tests on more than a quarter million people. The vaccine's final approval is only pending efficacy tests that will determine its protection capacity. Those tests have already begun in Villa Clara province, in central Cuba, where health authorities have announced that the preparation will be administered to 75,000 people, ranging in age from 20 to 64 years. Leptospirosis is transmitted by rodents, especially mice. The disease causes high fever and vomiting and can be fatal if not treated quickly. In some Latin American countries, it has acquired epidemic proportions. The Cuban anti-leptospirosis vaccine is being developed by the Havana-based Finlay Institute. Tests connected with the vaccine have involved volunteers from the five Cuban provinces most affected by the disease. Local production of an anti-leptospirosis vaccine will allow Cuba not only to substitute its importation but also to export some amounts abroad. CUBAN PRODUCTION OF LABORATORY ANIMALS THE HIGHEST IN THE THIRD WORLD Havana, February 16(RHC)-- With workers averaging 27 years of age, the Cuban National Center for the Production of Laboratory Animals, the CENPALAB, is responsible for most animal specimens needed by the island's growing biotechnological and pharmaceutical industries. The Center, which was built in the early 1980's, has also propelled Cuba to the first place in laboratory animal production in the Third World. During 1997, the CENPALAB surpassed all its production and research goals. It provided some 1 million laboratory animals of a high microbiological and genetic quality to the different scientific research centers in Cuba, additionally supplying them with more than 40 different types of animal food concentrates. CUBAN WORKERS'S WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS 1998 CONTRIBUTION OF TOBACCO INDUSTRY TO THE NATIONAL ECONOMY Havana, February 16(RHC)-- The Cuban tobacco industry did well in 1997, when it produced, for export alone, more than 1 million Havana cigars. The industry's performance was highlighted Monday by the weekly "Trabajadores," the official newspaper of the Cuban Trade Union Confederation. In an editorial, the paper noted that after falling to a mere 45 million cigars in 1993, production has now stabilized, with the industry expecting to export some 160 million cigars this year. "Trabajadores" stressed that in 1997, the Cuban tobacco industry covered all its hard currency expenses and used 97 million dollars of its profits to finance domestic food production programs. The industry's expansion also meant more than 4000 new jobs. The paper said the performance of the Cuban tobacco industry over the last few years greatly exceeds remaining problems in the sector, although --the publication notes-- the industry is still far from being an adequately structured, modern enterprise system. The Cuban Trade Union Confederation newspaper ended its editorial Monday by urging tobacco workers to make Cuba known not only as the land of the best tobacco in the world, but also that of the best tobacco growers in the world. TROPICANA SHOW TO TRAVEL TO GREAT BRITAIN IN MARCH Havana, February 16(RHC)-- The world-famous dancers and singers of Havana's Tropicana show will perform in Great Britain in March. Sponsored by the Cuban Gran Caribe Hotel Chain, the show will take to the stage at London's Royal Albert Hall, with a production that includes the best of Cuba's music and dancing. With 65 years of successful history, Tropicana is Cuba's most well-known Cabaret, and one of the world's finest. Famous for its choreography, its singers, and above all its dancers, the Tropicana show has travelled to the United States, Spain, Italy, France and many other nations. Stars like Marlon Brando, Nat King Cole and Maria Felix, among others, have performed at the Tropicana in Havana. UNUSUAL WIND GUSTS SWEEP CUBA SINCE SUNDAY Havana, February 16(RHC)-- Strong winds reaching up to 100 kilometers per hour have been sweeping across western and central Cuba since Sunday afternoon. The island's Meteorology Institute attributed this unusual weather condition to the effects of El Nino. In several special bulletins issued since late Sunday, weather authorities have been warning about the strong winds and asking the population to take precautionary measures. The winds, which continued all through Monday, have been accompanied by scattered showers and warm weather. 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