Bahamas News

Update from the Caribbean Public Health Agency on Testing Samples for COVID-19

Published

3 years ago

April 9, 2021

April, 9, 2021 – The CARPHA Medical Microbiology Laboratory (CMML) continues to receive and test samples for suspected COVID-19 cases from its Member States (MS). The CMML also maintains its reporting protocol to designated national referral laboratories.

Since December 2020, CARPHA has been working with the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine on genome sequencing for MS. Countries have been requested to send an allocation of ten samples per month which meet the requirements for sequencing.

To date CARPHA has detected cases of the UK variant in several Member States. While no cases of the Brazil or South Africa variant have been detected in the Region, U.S. variants of concern and a variant similar to the Brazil variant have been detected.

CARPHA urges Member States to remain vigilant and continue to enhance their surveillance capacity to screen, identify, test, quarantine, isolate and trace contacts of new cases supported by public health prevention and control measures.

During this critical phase of the pandemic and beyond, CARPHA will provide technical support, advice and the highest quality service to help inform decision makers in its Member States.

Bahamas News

Bahamas Agriculture Advancements-Reduces Food Import Reliance

Published

15 hours ago

May 11, 2024

Shanieka

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

The Bahamas is on its way to greater national food security and being less dependent on food imports with the Ministry of Agriculture’s container farms, two of them, provided by Eeden Farms.

On its Facebook, the ministry informs that the farms, both 40 feet, are able to produce the equivalent of 5 acres of high quality produce annually, resistant to hurricanes and pesticide free.

A container farm is a 21st century farming method that involves growing plants inside customized storage or shipping containers.

Bahamas News

The Bahamas’ Prime Minister Philip Davis reiterated climate change concerns for his nation.

Published

16 hours ago

May 11, 2024

Shanieka

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

The Bahamas’ Prime Minister Philip Davis reiterated the threats of climate change to The Bahamas, speaking at a Global Citizen Conference in New York on May 2. He spoke of The Bahamas’ vulnerability as an ocean state, highlighting that more than 85 percent of the landmass is less than 3 meters above sea level and is porous limestone; a huge issue as water is able to seep into the land due to rising sea-levels. He expressed that Bahamians are “Doomed” to become climate refugees.

Bahamas News

U.S. Bird Flu outbreak to drive Poultry prices up says Super Value owner

Published

2 days ago

May 10, 2024

Shanieka

Rashsed Esson

Staff Writer

Bird Flu has been detected in domesticated birds in the US and now reports are saying in the next few months, chicken and turkey will more than likely be off the shelves as a result.

Bahamas supermarket mogul, Rupert Roberts, as owner of Super Value and Quality Supermarkets, is featured in a report by Guardian Business giving a frightening forecast. He fears poultry products will be wiped out.

This he says is scary.

He adds that suppliers are not saying much if anything at all, but are expecting this outcome worldwide.

The bird flu was found in chickens in Texas and Michigan, said media reports which also said one person was infected, as well as other livestock.

In response to the outbreak, the largest egg producer in the US, CalMaine Foods, temporarily stopped egg production in Texas and started executing over 1 million hens and 337 thousand chicks.

Despite this, Roberts reportedly said chicken and turkey supplies are safe for now. The Bahamas imports its turkey from Brazil, which Roberts hopes will grow to become the country’s main supplier.

However, the unfortunate outcome is that poultry prices are set to go up according to Roberts, as the small island nation competes with giant economies like China for poultry products.