Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) concluded its Train-the-Trainer Workshop on the Safe Transportation of Infectious Substances today. The workshop, conducted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), was supported by the Pandemic Fund grant, with CARPHA serving as the Executing Agency and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) as the Implementing Entity.

Fourteen (14) CARPHA Member States (CMS) participated in this initiative, which aimed to strengthen regional capacity to meet international safety standards for shipping infectious substances. The training provided participants with essential theoretical knowledge, interactive discussions, and practical exercises to achieve IATA certification as trainers. These certified trainers will now be well-positioned to serve as national trainers and advisors in biosafety and safe transport protocols, ensuring safer practices across the region.

Dr. Lisa Indar, Ad. Interim Executive Director of CARPHA, highlighted the significance of the initiative: “As a region, we must ensure that the transportation of infectious substances meets international safety standards to protect our public health systems and communities. This workshop builds on CARPHA’s commitment to developing a robust network of certified trainers who can implement and sustain best practices in their home countries. We are grateful for the training supported by the Pandemic Fund project, enabling us to take key steps in pandemic preparedness and response.”

The program not only addressed gaps in Certified Infectious Substance Transport Training within CMS, but also established mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating the trainers’ impact in their respective countries. Participants are expected to conduct infectious substances transport training within the first quarter of 2025, ensuring the rapid application of their certification.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Horace Cox, Acting Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control at CARPHA, remarked: “The effectiveness of our public health response hinges on having a cadre of professionals who can translate this critical knowledge into action at the country level. This program empowers Member States to strengthen their capacity to handle infectious substances safely and securely, which is a cornerstone in bolstering regional health systems and pandemic preparedness and response.”

To ensure the sustainability of the training program, CARPHA is also establishing mechanisms for ongoing feedback and continuous improvement, ensuring that the program remains dynamic and responsive to the needs of the Member States and trainees. These efforts promise to enable better tracking of training activities and contribute to the long-term sustainability of the training program. This initiative is part of CARPHA’s broader mission to enhance laboratory capabilities, improve surveillance systems, and ensure public health security across the Caribbean. By creating a robust network of self-sufficient trainers in its Member States, CARPHA aims to strengthen the capacity for safely shipping infectious substances and enhance regional public health resilience.

About the Pandemic Fund Project:

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the sole regional public health agency, is the Executing Agency for the Pandemic Fund (PF) Project: RG-T4387, with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) as the Implementing Entity. The goal of this Project, which spans from 2024 to 2026, is to Reduce the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (PPR). The objective is to support the reduction of the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean by building pandemic PPR surveillance and early warning systems, laboratory systems and workforce capacity, regionally at CARPHA and at country levels. This will reduce the transboundary spread of infectious diseases and improve regional and global health security. CARPHA is the beneficiary of the PF project and CARPHA Member States are the participants.

The PF was approved at the highest level by the Council for Human and Social Development, as well as by CARPHA’s Executive Board and other stakeholders, including Chief Medical Officers. This is a regional 3-year project (2024-2026). The public signing of Technical Cooperation Agreement to implement the project was on December 14, 2023.

Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

Cayman Islands, December 3, 2024 – Local health and mosquito-control officials have confirmed the Cayman Islands’ first imported case of Oropouche virus disease.

This discovery has sparked calls for the public to strengthen their defences against vector-borne diseases. The Oropouche virus, which spreads to humans through bites from Culicoides paraensis midges (a type of small fly) and Culex mosquitoes, has previously been reported in South America and some Caribbean countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

While there is no evidence of community transmission in the Cayman Islands, authorities have also confirmed multiple imported cases of dengue fever this year. “Vector-borne diseases are a reminder of how connected we are as a region. By staying alert and taking simple precautions, we can protect ourselves and our community from the risks these diseases pose,” he stated.

The announcement comes amid a broader regional uptick in Oropouche virus cases. This month, Panama reported its first locally transmitted human case, with similar outbreaks documented in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Cuba, Guyana, and the Dominican Republic.

“Outbreaks of vector-borne diseases, including Oropouche and Dengue, underscore the importance of public awareness and action,” said Rachel Corbett, national epidemiologist for the Ministry of Health. “Travelers from affected regions like Cuba and Panama should use personal protective measures and monitor for symptoms such as fever or rash upon their return,” she said.

The Cayman Islands’ Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU) assured the public that it remains proactive in its efforts to curb mosquito populations and mitigate the risk of disease spread.

Jonathan Smellie, Molecular Biology Laboratory Manager, highlighted the country’s preparedness, stating, “Our ability to test locally for both the Oropouche and dengue viruses ensures timely diagnosis and a swift public health response.”

Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

December 3, 2024 – Following the detection of a Clade I variant case for the first time in the region, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) says countries of the Americas, including the Caribbean, need to maintain mpox surveillance.

PAHO said the Clade I case was reported by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on November 16. Clade I has historically caused more severe illness and death than Clade II.

In an epidemiological alert, issued by the health organization on Tuesday, PAHO urged countries to remain vigilant and “to continue with their surveillance efforts, with a special emphasis on high-risk groups.”

“The individual had a history of recent travel to East Africa and was treated shortly after arrival in the United States,” PAHO said. “Health authorities are working to identify and follow-up with potential contacts.”

To date, no further cases of Clade I have been detected in the region, PAHO said. It said that, between January 2022 and October 31, 2024, 115,101 confirmed cases of mpox, including 255 deaths, were reported in 123 World Health Organization (WHO) member-states.

PAHO noted that, on August 14, 2024, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus determined that an upsurge of mpox due to Clade Ibin the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and a growing number of countries in Africa constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).

In the Americas, PAHO said the highest number of mpox cases was recorded during 2022, peaking in August 2022. This was followed by a progressive decrease in cases that has continued throughout 2023 and 2024 and all cases in the Americas, except for the recent imported case of Clade Ib, were due to Clade II, PAHO said.

Symptoms include fever, intense headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, swollen lymph nodes, and a skin rash, or mucosal lesions, PAHO said. It said the rash tends to be concentrated on the face, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet, but can also be found on the mouth, anogenital region and eyes.

In the alert, PAHO also reminded all member states to continue surveillance efforts to characterize the situation and respond rapidly in the event of an introduction of Clade I mpox virus.

“Efforts should focus on early detection and diagnosis, isolation and contact tracing,” PAHO urged. “While vaccination can help prevent infection for people at risk, ‘mass vaccination against mpox in the population is neither required nor recommended.’”