GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC—The Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell, Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), has urged all citizens across the region to remain alert and stay informed through updates from CARPHA and local health authorities regarding the pox and its transmission.
He made the plea in the wake of the recent World Health Organization (WHO) declaration regarding the pox outbreak, specifically the more transmissible clade 1b.
Mitchell, who was speaking ahead of the 47th Council of Human and Social Development (COHSOD), here pointed to the importance of heightened vigilance within CARICOM.
As of August 14, the outbreak has been classified as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), necessitating a unified and proactive approach.
“It is important to be vigilant for any unusual rashes or lesions, especially if individuals have a travel history to areas with reported cases of pox and seek immediate medical attention if signs or symptoms are detected,” he said.
The Prime Minister said reporting any suspicious cases to local health authorities is a critical step in allowing for further epidemiological investigation.
“As Heads of Government, we remain resolute in our support to strengthen Ministries of Health within our Member States and Associate Members to ensure effective surveillance efforts and public health strategies to raise public awareness about pox and contribute to our collective preparedness,” Mitchell said.
He said the CARICOM Secretariat will work with CARPHA to ensure a well-coordinated regional and international response.
He added that the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) will continue to work with Member States and CARICOM IMPACS to monitor incoming passengers and facilitate the rapid identification of potential cases.
Regular updates will also be provided on the risk status as more information becomes available and if more cases are identified outside of Africa.
Although CARPHA has reported no cases of pox clad 1b in the Caribbean Community, enhanced surveillance to identify possible instances rapidly is essential to ensure our citizens’ safety and health security.
“Through our collective efforts and heightened awareness, the Caribbean Community can effectively safeguard the health and well-being of our communities against this public health concern,” the CARICOM Chairman noted.
Mpox is a zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus that can spread through direct contact with infected individuals, animals, or contaminated materials.
The current outbreak has shown a rapid increase in cases, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries, and it has the potential to spread globally.
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