The Spanish newspaper, El Pais, is reporting that Cuban leader Fidel Castro has suffered a serious infection and faces a "very grave prognosis." Castro has not been seen in public since he underwent surgery in July of last year. As questions about his health are raised, there is speculation about the future of Cuba and the Cuban people.

Research sociologists Lisandro Perez, Founding Director of Florida International University's Cuban Research Institute, Orlando Rodriguez, Director of Fordham University's Hispanic Research Center, and Ruben Rumbaut, a member of ENCASA/US-Cuba, a group of Cuban-American scholars and artists, have been monitoring developments in Cuba and are available for interviews and comment.

For more information, contact Sujata Sinha at 202-247-9871 or via email at ssinha@asanet.org