Dr. Finlay, the most thorough and intense researcher of this disease, concluded that between an infected individual and a healthy one, there was an independent agent that transmitted it, and he was able to identify Aedes aegypti as the biological vector.

His victory was attempted to be overshadowed by the United States to favor the American Walter Reed.

Despite the moves to strip the Cuban researcher of his merit, the global scientific community was not deceived and recognized him as the first and sole author of the finding.

This is evidenced by the numerous awards he received, including the Mary Kingsley Medal, the highest award of the time for research in tropical medicine, in 1907, and the decoration of Officer of the Legion of Honor from the French government, in 1908.

For its part, UNESCO included him among the six greatest microbiologists of all time and, since 1980, established the Carlos J. Finlay Prize as an incentive for microbiological research.

In his honor, the date of his birth was also designated to commemorate Latin American Medicine Day. Currently, the Cuban State awards the Carlos J. Finlay Order to the most relevant scientific works for the well-being of humanity.

To commemorate the date, Cuba organizes tribute events for Health workers, occasions in which the main achievements in this field are highlighted, including advances in the maternal and child program, the island’s contributions to international medical cooperation, as well as the support to other nations in the face of natural disasters and epidemics. jdt/oda/lpn