Expert missions mobilized by the Pan American Health Organization/World
Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) have visited seven countries of the
Eastern Caribbean this month to support their efforts to prepare for the
possible introduction of cases of Ebola virus disease.
In coordination with national health authorities and with support
from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), three expert missions
have already visited Barbados, Dominica, Antigua, and Grenada, and
others are expected to conclude tomorrow in St. Vincent, St. Kitts and
Nevis, and St. Lucia.
The missions are supporting efforts in Eastern Caribbean countries to
ensure they are able to detect, treat, and contain the spread of any
potential case of Ebola. PAHO/WHO will follow up on the missions in the
coming weeks, providing technical cooperation as requested and according
to each country’s needs.
Since the start of West Africa’s current Ebola epidemic, more than
15,000 cases and over 5,000 deaths have been reported. In the Americas,
only the United States has reported cases (two imported and two of local
transmission). No cases have been reported in Latin America or the
Caribbean, although the risk of such a case cannot be discarded.
“Working together we can continue to strengthen basic capacities
defined by the International Health Regulations, so that we are better
prepared to respond effectively not only to Ebola but to any health
emergency that arrives on our shores,” said Godfrey Xuereb, PAHO/WHO
Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.
The PAHO/WHO missions, in cooperation with CARPHA, are focusing on
the following areas, in alignment with the International Health
Regulations:
-
Coordination of institutions involved in detecting and responding to potential Ebola cases
-
Epidemiological investigation, surveillance and laboratory
capacity, particularly to ensure rapid identification and isolation of
cases, diagnostic confirmation, and contact tracing to contain the
spread of the virus
-
Logistics, ensuring that needed supplies are available, especially
personal protective equipment for healthcare workers, and that effective
mechanisms for shipping laboratory specimens are in place
-
Communication capacity to ensure transparency and public trust in
health authorities and general compliance with public health measures.
Last week in Barbados, PAHO/WHO facilitated training in risk
communication for participants throughout the Caribbean, to help ensure
the countries are able to communicate effectively with the public during
an outbreak or other health emergency. More than 100 health and
communication experts from 30 countries and territories participated in
the training. PAHO/WHO also organized training on risk communication for
chief medical officers in the Caribbean.
During the first week of December, PAHO/WHO will provide training in
Antigua and Barbuda for representatives of Caribbean countries focused
on organization of health services and clinical management of Ebola.
PAHO/WHO has been working with its member countries throughout the
Americas to ensure they have the necessary policies, procedures and
human resource capacity in place to manage any introduction of Ebola.
This work has included virtual and in-person training in preparedness,
risk communication, and logistics as well as the dissemination of norms
and standards for infection control, disease surveillance, use of
personal protective equipment, collection and handling of highly
pathogenic laboratory samples, and laboratory procedures.
Ebola virus disease is a serious infectious disease spread from
person to person. Infection is transmitted by direct or indirect contact
with the blood, body fluids or secretions (stool, urine, saliva, semen)
of infected people, but only when they show symptoms. Ebola cannot be
transmitted by air.
Founded in 1902, PAHO is the world's oldest international public
health organization. It works with the countries of the Americas to
improve the health and quality of life of their populations. It serves
as WHO's Regional Office for the Americas and is the specialized health
agency of the Inter-American system.
Links:
Ebola (PAHO)
PAHO/ECC: http://www.paho.org/ecc/
