| epidemic neuropathy in cuba: a public health problem related to the cuban democracy act of the united states. | in 1992, the usa embargo on cuba was tightened through the passage of the cuban democracy act (cda) that explicitly restricts food and medical supplies. the embargo has contributed to cause a number of public health problems in cuba including: (1) an epidemic of more than 50,000 cases of optic and peripheral neuropathies in 1992-1993, resulting from dietary deficiency; (2) an epidemic of esophageal stenoses in toddlers who inadvertently drank liquid lye as a result of a soap shortage for which l ... | 1998 | 9648115 |