Cuban Medical Hero - Dr Carlos Finlay

Yellow fever is a tropical disease usually found incommunication of the disease.
parts of South America and Africa. Two types ofIt was Dr. Carlos Finlay, a Cuban scientist and doctor
yellow fever are known. There's jungle yellow fever,who first postulated that the fever's carriers are
which primarily affects monkeys, and then there'sactually mosquitoes. Several exhaustive research and
urban yellow fever, which primarily affects humans.studies were done to prove this, but it was almost
This fever is generally mild but can cause other20 years later that this theory was completely
illnesses that are life-threatening. When one getsverified. It was his earlier research that opened
yellow fever, symptoms such as chills, muscle aches,several venues in the fight against the fever.
headache, backache and vomiting may beDr. Carlos Finlay, the man from Havana, Cuba is
experienced. This can also lead to kidney and liverknown as a pioneer in fever research. Other
failure. The name of this disease was derived fromscientists in this field from all over the world credit
the effect of kidney and liver failure on humanhim with the discovery of the carrier of this virus and
beings. Patients become jaundiced -- their skin andthe way it transfers from one host to another.
the white of their eyes turn yellowish when theBecause of his achievements in the field of research
disease progresses.and medicine, he served as Cuba's chief health officer
For a long time, doctors and scientists argued as tofrom 1902 to 1909.
how fever disease is contracted. Several theoriesThis achievement, no doubt, adds glory to the Cuban
were given, but none were sufficient to explain theflag and brings pride to Cubans everywhere.