carpha
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Jamaica spending millions to upgrade UWI lab to test for Zika virus
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Thursday January 21, 2016 – The Jamaica Government is spending J$10 million (US$82,936) to upgrade and improve the Virology Laboratory at the University of the West Indies (UWI) to ensure that testing for the Zika Virus (ZikV) can be carried out locally. Minister of Health Horace Dalley made the announcement yesterday as ZikV, which is transmitted by the Aedes…
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CARPHA continues to battle Dengue, Chikungunya; prepares for Zika
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – Vector borne diseases, such as Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika, continue to emerge in the Caribbean, threatening health, tourism, social and economic development. According to Dr. Joy St. John, Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control at the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) “in the last decade, the Caribbean has been wrestling with wave after wave…
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CARPHA gets IDB funding to address tourism sustainability challenges
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved funding to the tune of US$800,000 for the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) to address health, safety and environmental (HSE) threats that challenge the sustainability of tourism in the Caribbean. CARPHA, which has direct responsibility for the execution of the project will work along with the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) and the Caribbean…
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Avoid being bitten by mosquitoes – CARPHA
Port of Spain, Trinidad, – The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is again urging persons to take every precaution to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Earlier this month, CARPHA had confirmed five (5) case of Zika virus in a territory of the Caribbean Community. Zika is a viral disease, transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the same insect vector forDengue and Chikungunya. This is the first time Zika has…
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CARPHA Executive Director Appeals for Balance when Pursuing Economic Growth in the Region
Castries, Saint Lucia, November 19, 2015: Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Dr C James Hospedales said economic growth should not come at the expense of healthy people and a healthy environment; and referred to this imbalance as one of the greatest challenges this Region faces. Dr Hospedales was speaking at the opening of a three-day Caribbean…
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Caribbean Environmental Experts Seek Solutions for Climate Change and Public Health Challenges
Castries, Saint Lucia – The Caribbean, mainly comprised of small island nations, is the world’s most tourist-dependent region, and one of the most vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change. Within recent times, the Region has experienced more frequent and severe storms and hurricanes, increases in mosquito-borne diseases, rises in sea level, prolonged periods of drought and salt water intrusion of…
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Influenza Activity in the Caribbean
For the year to date, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) received 284 samples for influenza virus testing. Forty-seven (47) tested positive of which 14 were typed as Influenza A H1N1. The table below shows number of samples received and tested positive for Influenza A for 2013 -2014. CARPHA would like to advise members of the public to practice…
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CARPHA Provides Support to Dominica in the Aftermath of Tropical Storm Erika
In the aftermath of Tropical Storm Erika, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has been providing support to the Commonwealth of Dominica particular in the area of surveillance. Dr. C James Hospedales, Executive Director of CARPHA accompanied by two Officers from the Agency, travelled to Dominica shortly after the disaster and in-country assistance was provided for three weeks. Working alongside…
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CARPHA visit covers tourism and health
CARPHA continues to advocate collaboration between health and tourism sectors to jointly address the critical link between tourism and health. One way of achieving this objective would be to strengthen the existing national surveillance system through the addition of an early warning and response mechanisms for travel related illnesses, i.e. establishing the monitoring of illnesses among visitors in hotels and…
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Strengthening Caribbean Regional Health Security Preparedness and Response
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) hosted a workshop titled Strengthening Caribbean Regional Health Security, Preparedness and Response from 20-22 July 2015. The three day workshop focused on contact tracing, and sought to promote and strengthen Member States’ capacity to respond to epidemic outbreaks and identify incidents that may be potential public health emergencies of international concern. While there are…
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