Castro Blames Gringos for Swine Flu in Cuba

Despite all that talk about opening up Cuba to American tourism, old habits apparently die hard for former leader Fidel Castro. In a newspaper editorial, Castro recently blamed an influx of U.S. visitors for the spread of the H1N1 (swine) flu in Cuba, which now is present in all of the island's provinces. Castro also chided the U.S. for the decades-old trade embargo that he said is preventing Cuba from getting medicine and other supplies to fight the epidemic, the BBC reported Oct. 31.

"I don't think, of course, that it was the intention of the United States government" to spread the virus, Castro allowed. "But this is the reality resulting from the absurd and shameful blockade."

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