As dengue fever, Zika and Chikungunya continue to increase across the Caribbean region, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has appealed to people to remain vigilant and take immediate action to reduce the spread of these mosquito-borne diseases as they threaten lives and negatively impact livelihoods.
In a recent release, CARPHA said the diseases have continued to pose a serious public health threat to the Caribbean region, with increased reports of dengue outbreaks, hospitalizations, and deaths in some instances being recorded.
They said, “These mosquito-borne diseases can have a major impact on our way of life and our vital tourist industry, on which most of our islands depend.”
Encouraging member states to remain vigilant, CARPHA’s Ad Interim executive director, Dr. Lisa Indar said, “It is crucial that surveillance, prevention, and control measures are boosted to reduce the transmission of arboviruses in the Caribbean.”
Dr Horace Cox, assistant director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control, and head of Vector-Borne Diseases at CARPHA explained, “These viral infections are transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, a vector known to be endemic to the region.”{
Senior technical officer of vector-borne Diseases at CARPHA, Rajesh Ragoo, said, “Community involvement is essential in the fight against mosquito-borne diseases. A proactive approach can help reduce risk and keep communities safe.”