HAVANA, Cuba (AP) – Top priests of Cuba’s African-influenced Santeria religion issued their yearly forecast yesterday, predicting that the island will enjoy a better economy, but suffer more health problems in 2007.

Competing groups of Santeria priests, or babalaos, gather every New Year’s Eve for religious ceremonies that include chanting and animal sacrifices. Cubans eagerly look forward to the so-called Letter of the Year released in the next days, containing the priests’ vague predictions which can be interpreted in many ways.

This year’s letter did not say much about likely the biggest question on Cubans’ minds: the uncertain health of 80-year-old leader Fidel Castro, who temporarily stepped aside five months ago following emergency surgery for intestinal bleeding. He has not been seen in public since.

But Victor Betancourt of the Miguel Febres Padron group of some 950 Santeria priests said Castro’s physicians could draw some advice from the letter.

“The doctors attending to that case should be careful there are no complications. or an infection,” Betancourt told reporters.

Betancourt’s group also said the Santeria orishas, or gods, ruling 2007 will be Ochosi, the patron hunter.

“This is a very good year for conquering adversaries,” Betancourt said.

But Cubans – and people around the world – this year must watch out for epidemics, changes in personal relationships, broken agreements and possible military interventions, Betancourt added.

The smaller Yoruba Association of Cuba predicted that health will be a major issue for Cuba in the new year and cautioned Cubans to take care of themselves and eat well.

Santeria is a mix of spiritual traditions carried here by African slaves, and Catholicism brought by Spaniards. The faith is practiced throughout Cuba and even many members of the Communist Party follow its rituals.