ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Students coming home from Cuba are returning this week in seemingly good spirits despite a cholera outbreak in the eastern parts of the fellow Caribbean island.

Over 10 students returned to Antigua at the weekend, with close to 20 more expected shortly.

Acting president of the Cuba Parents Teachers’ Association Emelda Frank told OBSERVER Media from all indication, the students, who are attending different educational institutions in Cuba, were not affected by the recent outbreak.

Frank, whose daughter Camelda Frank is the student body president, said most of the students were far from Manzanillo where the outbreak was first detected.

Frank added that she was the first to inform her daughter of the outbreak.

“She went to the directors of her school to find out if it was in her area and they said it was not,” Emelda said.

According to the acting president, she is in contact with most of the students on a regular basis in order to keep abreast with developments.

The Antiguan students will also be meeting today to discuss plans for their upcoming graduation.

A release from the Public Health Ministry in Cuba on Saturday said there were 158 confirmed cholera cases and three people had died since the illness was first detected.

According to the statement, the outbreak of cases transmitted through water is diminishing with no indication the illness has spread through food or other means.

Cuban authorities first reported the outbreak on July 3, stating there were 53 cases and three deaths at the time.