Carib Scope

分类： health

  • Brazil suspends dengue vaccine following two deaths

    Brazil suspends dengue vaccine following two deaths

    RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Brazilian health authorities announced a temporary halt to the deployment of the world’s first single-dose dengue vaccine on Monday, triggering precautionary measures after two unexplained deaths linked to the inoculation prompted safety reviews.

    Developed through a public-sector initiative in Brazil and granted regulatory approval by national health bodies last November, the groundbreaking vaccine has already been administered to more than 500,000 people across the country between January and May of this year. As the first ever single-dose injection designed to protect against dengue, a mosquito-borne viral infection that triggers symptoms ranging from high fever, intense headaches, and severe muscle pain to nausea and skin rashes, and can turn fatal in rare severe cases, the shot was hailed as a major leap forward in public health responses to the disease.

    Preliminary post-vaccination surveillance data shows that of the 501,044 people who received the dose in the first five months of the year, roughly 0.7 percent — 3,703 individuals — developed symptoms that mirror those of natural dengue infection. Brazil’s Ministry of Health further confirmed that 42 recipients experienced more intense adverse responses, with three cases classified as severe. Those three severe events include the deaths of a 58-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman, while a third patient, a 38-year-old woman, required intensive care admission before making a full recovery and being discharged.

    Speaking at a public press briefing, Health Minister Alexandre Padilha emphasized that regulators have not yet compiled sufficient evidence to confirm a direct causal relationship between the vaccine and the three serious adverse events. Even so, he noted that the unexplained incidents represent a clear warning sign that demands immediate precautionary action.

    “As a safety measure, we have made the decision to temporarily suspend all vaccination campaigns using this product,” Padilha stated, adding that the government would not outline a timeline for reintroducing the shot until further investigation is completed. The minister also pointed out that these adverse effects were “completely unexpected” — no similar severe reactions were observed during earlier clinical trials that involved more than 16,000 volunteers across 14 Brazilian states. Those same trials recorded a 91.6 percent efficacy rate for the vaccine against the most life-threatening forms of dengue, a result that positioned it as a transformative tool for curbing the disease.

    Unlike the only other approved dengue vaccine on the global market, TAK-003, which requires two separate doses administered three months apart per World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, Brazil’s single-dose candidate was designed to streamline and accelerate large-scale mass vaccination campaigns, a key priority for dengue-endemic nations. For context, Brazil bore the brunt of global dengue burden in 2024, recording more than 6,000 deaths from the virus — nearly half of all fatal dengue cases recorded worldwide last year. While public health outcomes improved significantly in 2025, the virus remains a leading ongoing public health threat in the Latin American nation.

  • Push against junk food marketing to curb childhood obesity

    Push against junk food marketing to curb childhood obesity

    Public health advocates from Barbados are sounding a urgent alarm over a growing public health crisis across the Caribbean: rising childhood obesity fueled by skyrocketing consumption of ultra-processed foods, driven by predatory marketing targeted at young people inside school campuses.

    Kabira Foster, Youth Advocacy Officer with the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados, shared the warning on the sidelines of the third annual Hope for the Future event, held Saturday in Bridgetown’s National Heroes Square. The gathering, a core component of the foundation’s ongoing Make It Make Sense 2.0 public health campaign, was organized to shine a spotlight on predatory advertising of unhealthy food and drinks to children and push for systemic changes to create healthier learning environments across the island’s schools.

    Decades of public outreach have worked to embed healthier eating habits among young Barbadians, but aggressive industry marketing continues to undermine progress, Foster explained. The foundation’s core mission is to guarantee schools remain safe, supportive spaces where children can learn, grow and develop long-term healthy habits—and junk food marketing is actively eroding that goal.

    “The root of this issue is the steady infiltration of marketing for these unhealthy food and beverage products on school grounds,” Foster said in an interview with Barbados TODAY. “We are seeing a sharp uptick in consumption of these ultra-processed items, and that is directly driving the increase in childhood obesity rates we are observing right here in Barbados, and across the entire Caribbean region.”

    The Hope for the Future initiative was launched shortly after the Barbados government implemented its landmark School Nutrition Policy in 2023. The first gathering brought together a cross-sector group of stakeholders: student representatives, national policymakers, school canteen operators, and public health advocates, to map out pathways for building nutritious, supportive food environments for school-age children. Last year’s event built on that foundation, and this year’s iteration shifted focus to the specific, underaddressed threat of junk food marketing within school campuses.

    “Hope for the Future 3.0 centers specifically on the threat of unhealthy food and beverage marketing in our schools, and the urgent need for restrictions on this advertising to protect children from the well-documented harms of poor dietary habits,” Foster noted.

    Throughout the day of the event, organizers ran hands-on public engagement activities and one-on-one interviews with attendees, to measure public attitudes toward junk food advertising and better understand how marketing shapes children’s current eating habits.

    “We’ve had incredibly productive conversations and engagement with members of the public, who were easily able to name the specific marketing tactics brands use within school walls to lure children and push them to consume more of these unhealthy products,” Foster said. Organizers are also collecting public input on policy and community measures that could be put in place to rein in predatory marketing and make it easier for young people to choose nutritious options.

    The campaign builds on global public health research that links exposure to junk food marketing in childhood to long-term higher rates of obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes, conditions that place growing strain on public health systems across small island developing states like Barbados.

  • Recurrent vaginal infections: Achieving the perfect balance of bacterial flora

    Recurrent vaginal infections: Achieving the perfect balance of bacterial flora

    Thirty-four-year-old schoolteacher Sandra walked into Dr. Daryl Daley’s Jamaican obstetrics and gynaecology practice visibly exhausted and defeated. For six months, she had battled persistent, socially debilitating recurrent vaginal discharge, cycling through four different clinicians and every conventional treatment on offer: oral antifungal medications, antibiotics, topical vaginal gels, creams, inserts, and even the probiotic yoghurt recommended by a fellow church member. Each intervention brought only temporary relief. What made her frustration even deeper was that she followed every recommended hygiene rule: she exercised regularly, ate a balanced diet, avoided scented soaps and lotions, changed sanitary products frequently, and showered daily. Still, the unwelcome symptoms returned, eroding her self-confidence, straining her intimate relationship, and upending her quality of life. When she pleaded for answers, Dr. Daley realized her story was far from unusual – he hears this exact question at least once every week from patients stuck in the same cycle of recurrence.

    For decades, conventional first-line treatment for abnormal vaginal discharge has relied on antibiotics and antifungals to eliminate pathogenic organisms. While this approach works well for most acute cases, a small but significant subset of women continue to experience repeat infections year after year. Dr. Daley argues that in modern women’s healthcare, it is past time to shift focus from just treating symptoms to addressing the root cause: disrupted vaginal microbial balance. The root of abnormal discharge lies in shifts to vaginal pH that allow harmful bacteria or yeast to overgrow. The core question, he says, is how to sustainably restore the healthy balance of beneficial bacteria that protects the female genital tract. The answer, he argues, lies in probiotics – an underdiscussed intervention that deserves far more attention in women’s health conversations than it currently receives.

    To understand why probiotics matter, it is first critical to understand how the healthy vaginal microbiome works. Contrary to common belief, a healthy vagina is not sterile. It hosts a carefully regulated, balanced community of microorganisms dominated by two key lactobacillus species: Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus iners. These beneficial bacteria produce lactic acid that keeps vaginal pH in the ideal range of 3.8 to 4.5, creating an acidic environment that is toxic to harmful pathogens, yeast, and many sexually transmitted organisms. This makes the balanced microbiome the body’s first line of defense against infection.

    But this delicate balance is easily disrupted. Antibiotic use, hormonal shifts, sexual activity, overzealous hygiene practices, dietary changes, and even hot, humid tropical climates common in regions like Jamaica can cause protective lactobacillus populations to decline. When that happens, opportunistic harmful organisms take over, leading to two of the most common causes of abnormal discharge: bacterial vaginosis (BV) and vulvovaginal candidiasis (yeast infections). For many women, this triggers a frustrating cycle: they get a round of treatment, symptoms clear up for a few weeks or months, only to return, sending them back to their clinician’s office again and again.

    This is where targeted probiotic therapy comes in. Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms that deliver measurable health benefits to the host when administered in adequate doses. While the general concept of probiotics is not new, their application to vaginal health is an emerging field backed by growing, compelling clinical research. The core logic is simple: if recurrent infections are fundamentally caused by a broken microbial balance, then restoring that healthy balance offers a far more durable long-term solution than just repeatedly killing off harmful organisms. Probiotic therapy aligns with the long-held adage that prevention is better than cure, addressing the root of the problem rather than just its symptoms.

    Multiple peer-reviewed clinical studies support this approach. Research shows that both oral and vaginal probiotic formulations containing well-researched strains – Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactobacillus reuteri – are able to successfully colonize the vaginal tract after oral administration. Once established, they rebalance the vaginal microbiome and significantly cut rates of BV recurrence. For women defined as having recurrent infections (three or more episodes per year), adding probiotic therapy as an adjunct to standard antibiotic or antifungal treatment delivers meaningful, measurable reductions in relapse rates compared to using conventional treatments alone.

    In his clinical practice, Dr. Daley recommends discussing probiotic therapy for three key groups of women. First, women with recurrent BV, particularly those who experience a relapse within just a few weeks of finishing standard treatment with metronidazole or clindamycin. Second, women with recurrent vaginal yeast infections, especially those who have completed multiple courses of antifungals with shorter and shorter gaps between episodes. Third, women who have just finished a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics for any condition: these medications wipe out protective vaginal flora along with the harmful bacteria they target, so probiotic supplementation during and after treatment can speed up the process of restoring microbial balance.

    Dr. Daley also emphasizes that probiotic therapy works best when paired with simple lifestyle adjustments. He counsels patients to avoid douching (a common practice that causes more harm than good in his region), choose breathable cotton underwear, avoid unnecessary antibiotic use, and steer clear of heavily scented feminine hygiene products that disrupt the natural vaginal environment.

    Not all probiotics are equally effective, and Dr. Daley urges women to approach the unregulated market with caution. Store shelves are flooded with probiotic products making broad, unsubstantiated health claims. Only specific strains have robust clinical evidence supporting their use for vaginal health: the combination of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactobacillus reuteri in oral capsule formulations has the strongest backing. Some women also benefit from intravaginal probiotic preparations, especially in the immediate period after finishing conventional infection treatment. While fermented foods like natural unsweetened yoghurt, kefir, and fermented vegetables offer general probiotic benefits for gut health, they do not provide the targeted strain concentrations needed to reliably colonize the vaginal tract. For that, targeted probiotic supplementation is the most reliable option.

    Crucially, Dr. Daley stresses that women should always consult their gynaecologist before starting long-term probiotic use, rather than self-prescribing. Not all abnormal discharge is caused by BV or yeast: conditions like trichomoniasis and cervicitis require completely different treatment approaches, and misdiagnosis can delay life-changing appropriate care. A full clinical work-up to rule out sexually transmitted infections, underlying diabetes, cervical inflammation, and other conditions is a critical first step in managing recurrent discharge and infections.

    After completing this thorough work-up that confirmed Sandra had recurrent bacterial vaginosis, Dr. Daley put her on a treatment plan: an initial course of vaginal metronidazole gel, followed immediately by a two-month course of targeted oral probiotic supplementation with the three evidence-backed lactobacillus strains. Six months later, Sandra returned for her follow-up appointment with incredible news: she had experienced no recurrence of symptoms. For the first time in months, she said, she felt like herself again.

    Sandra’s successful outcome is not unique, but recurrent vaginal infections do not have to be an inevitable part of life for women. If you are struggling with repeated bouts of abnormal discharge and infection, Dr. Daley encourages you to have an open conversation with your clinician about whether adjunctive probiotic therapy might be right for you. In Jamaica, targeted probiotic products are available locally, and your ob/gyn can help you select the right formulation for your needs.

    Dr. Daryl Daley JP is a cosmetic gynaecologist and obstetrician based at 3D Gynaecology Limited, 23 Tangerine Place, Kingston 10, Jamaica. He can be contacted via email at ddaley@3dgynae.com.

  • Take precautions: Here are some ailments Saharan dust can cause.

    Take precautions: Here are some ailments Saharan dust can cause.

    As the annual wave of Saharan dust descends on the Caribbean nation alongside early hurricane season heatwaves, the country’s Ministry of Health has rolled out a series of urgent public health guidelines to protect vulnerable populations from avoidable respiratory and heat-related complications.

    This recurring atmospheric event, which originates from wind-eroded particles in the Sahara Desert, follows consistent seasonal patterns, arriving in the Caribbean between May and August each year and overlapping with the start of Atlantic hurricane season. While intensity fluctuates annually, the current surge in dust concentrations paired with unseasonably high temperatures has prompted health officials to step up public outreach.

    Saharan dust particles suspended in the air pose the greatest risk to people with preexisting respiratory conditions, including asthma, allergies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, and pneumonia. The tiny irritants can easily aggravate underlying symptoms, trigger sudden flare-ups, and even lead to severe complications that require medical intervention for at-risk groups. In addition to respiratory impacts, the dust also frequently causes temporary eye irritation, and can amplify regional temperatures by trapping heat in the lower atmosphere, worsening heat-related health risks.

    Addressing the public this week, Health Minister Victor Atallah emphasized the importance of proactive prevention, particularly for high-vulnerability demographics. “Right now, we are navigating a period of elevated temperatures and unusually high Saharan dust concentrations, both of which put respiratory health at risk,” Atallah stated. “We urge all residents to take simple precautions, stay properly hydrated, and limit unnecessary sun exposure—this advice is especially critical for anyone living with chronic respiratory conditions.”

    The Ministry of Health has identified five key vulnerable groups that require extra monitoring and precaution: older adults, young children, pregnant and postpartum people, immunocompromised patients, and individuals living with any chronic long-term health condition.

    To address both dust and heat risks, health officials have outlined a clear set of actionable recommendations for the public. For respiratory protection, people with preexisting conditions are instructed to strictly adhere to their prescribed treatment plans and intensify protective measures to avoid exposure. For eye health, officials advise avoiding rubbing irritated eyes and maintaining consistent hand and eye hygiene to reduce irritation and prevent secondary infection.

    To combat rising temperatures, the Ministry recommends drinking sufficient water throughout the day to stay hydrated, wearing loose, light-colored lightweight clothing that reflects heat, and limiting extended outdoor activity between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when temperatures and UV exposure are at their peak. The guidance also encourages eating a balanced diet low in excess fat, salt, and sugar to support overall health during extreme heat, and regularly wiping down indoor surfaces with damp cloths to reduce accumulated dust particles inside homes and public spaces.

    Officials note that while Saharan dust intrusions are a normal seasonal occurrence in the Caribbean, the combination of high dust concentrations and heat can create significant public health risks when communities fail to take basic precautions. The Ministry is urging all residents to monitor official public health updates for changing conditions and follow all guidance from local health authorities to protect themselves and their families.

  • Health Authorities call for preparedness despite forecasts of a below-normal 2026 Atlantic hurricane season

    Health Authorities call for preparedness despite forecasts of a below-normal 2026 Atlantic hurricane season

    As the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season gets underway, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has issued an urgent call to governments across the Americas to revisit their disaster contingency frameworks and ramp up readiness measures. The goal is to shield regional health systems from cascading harms triggered by hurricanes, flash floods, landslides and other extreme weather events that routinely hit the hemisphere.

    Current long-range forecasts suggest the 2026 storm season will be less active than the unusually intense periods recorded in recent years, but PAHO has stressed that this milder projection does not eliminate risk. Even one single powerful hurricane, the organization notes, can upend routine health care delivery and create severe, widespread threats to public health that outlast the storm itself.

    “Extreme hydrometeorological events remain a constant threat across the Americas,” stated Leonardo Hernández, director of PAHO’s Emergency Operations Unit. “Preparing health systems before an emergency strikes is non-negotiable if we want to save lives, keep critical care accessible to all those who need it, and cut down on the disproportionate harm these events inflict on the most vulnerable populations.”

    Beyond the immediate destruction of critical health infrastructure and the interruption of essential services like vaccinations and chronic disease management, hurricanes and subsequent flooding create a cascade of secondary public health risks. These include elevated rates of waterborne illnesses such as cholera and typhoid, increased transmission of vector-borne diseases spread by mosquitoes, higher rates of respiratory infections from damp, crowded post-storm living conditions, a surge in storm-related injuries, and long-term negative mental health outcomes for affected communities. The public health emergencies sparked by extreme weather also add unplanned, overwhelming strain to health systems that are already operating at or beyond capacity in many parts of the region.

    To address these risks, PAHO is urging all at-risk countries to verify that every level of their health system has up-to-date contingency plans, fully trained emergency response personnel, and clear cross-agency coordination mechanisms in place. These systems are critical to ensuring essential health services can continue operating during a storm and recover quickly in its aftermath. The organization also recommends expanding disease surveillance infrastructure and community-based monitoring networks, which enable early detection and rapid response to the unique public health risks that follow extreme weather events.

    According to forecast data from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season is projected to see below-normal activity, largely driven by the formation of El Niño conditions in the Pacific. El Niño, defined by above-average sea surface temperatures across the central and eastern Pacific, typically creates wind patterns that suppress the formation of tropical cyclones in the Atlantic basin. However, PAHO points out that El Niño also reshapes rainfall and temperature trends across the Americas, increasing the chance of extreme events including droughts, intense downpours, flooding and landslides across different subregions of the hemisphere, even when hurricane activity is low.

    Preparedness takes on added urgency in 2026 due to the region’s ongoing epidemiological context, PAHO says. Countries across the Americas are already responding to ongoing outbreaks of measles and yellow fever, and must maintain readiness for other emerging and re-emerging public health threats. When a climate emergency overlaps with existing infectious disease outbreaks, health systems are quickly stretched beyond their breaking point, crippling their ability to meet the sudden surge in demand for care during and after an extreme weather event.

    To support national governments in their preparedness work, PAHO will host a virtual regional readiness meeting on June 11, bringing together representatives from health ministries and national disaster risk management agencies from every country in the Americas. The gathering will focus on updating and strengthening protocols for health service management, epidemiological surveillance, and emergency operations, while integrating key lessons identified during previous extreme weather and public health events.

    The meeting will also advance the implementation of the World Health Organization’s 2025 National Health Emergency Preparedness, Alert and Response Framework. This global framework promotes a multi-hazard approach to emergency readiness built around five core functional systems: collaborative cross-agency surveillance, community-centered protection, safe and scalable acute care, equitable access to medical countermeasures, and integrated emergency coordination.

    Looking beyond the June meeting, PAHO says it will continue its long-term work with member states to strengthen national emergency preparedness plans and intersectoral coordination mechanisms at both the national and local levels. This ongoing support is designed to ensure that countries can launch timely, effective responses when extreme weather events or other public health emergencies strike, ultimately saving lives and reducing harm to vulnerable communities.

  • Minister of Health Tours Key Healthcare Infrastructure Projects

    Minister of Health Tours Key Healthcare Infrastructure Projects

    In a proactive push to evaluate the resilience and future readiness of Antigua and Barbuda’s national healthcare network, Honorable Michael Joseph – the country’s Minister of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs – launched a full-day tour of key medical facilities and ongoing infrastructure projects on Wednesday.

    Accompanying Minister Joseph on the inspection tour were senior government stakeholders, including Permanent Secretary Stacey Gregg-Paige, Head of Infrastructure Gary Thomas, and Telly Cornelius, a designated representative from the Ministry of Works. The interagency delegation kicked off their itinerary at the Grays Farm Dental Clinic, where Dr. Derek Marshall, head of the national Dental Unit, greeted the team and led a detailed walkthrough of the clinic’s existing operational spaces.

    During talks held after the tour, participants centered their conversation on two core priorities: examining the potential for expanding the clinic’s physical footprint, and evaluating whether adding new specialized oral health services would be practical and sustainable for the facility. The on-site visit allowed officials to gather first-hand data on the clinic’s current service capacity, laying the groundwork for targeted upgrades that align with both the public’s immediate oral health needs and the ministry’s long-term strategic development goals.

    Following the stop at the dental clinic, the delegation moved to inspect the government’s new morgue facility, where they received up-to-date briefings on the pace of ongoing construction works. The team closely reviewed the infrastructure’s progress, as the facility is purpose-built to bolster national pathology services and support related medical testing operations.

    The tour’s next stop was the new renal care facility currently under development. Once construction wraps up and the facility opens to patients, it is projected to dramatically transform renal care delivery across the country, creating more comfortable treatment environments and expanding access to life-sustaining dialysis services for patients in need.

    Officials also received progress updates on the construction of the new CARE Project facility, a flagship government initiative focused on expanding care and support services for children living with special needs.

    Speaking after the conclusion of the tour, Minister Joseph emphasized that these on-site inspections are not isolated events, but rather part of a cross-sector nationwide program of engagement and evaluation across Antigua and Barbuda’s health sector. He underlined that the government’s top priority is ensuring all public healthcare facilities are properly resourced with cutting-edge equipment, developed in line with long-term strategic planning, and fully equipped to meet both the current and future healthcare demands of the population.

    To date, the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to expanding and modernizing the country’s healthcare infrastructure, with the end goal of improving equitable access to high-quality medical services for every resident of Antigua and Barbuda.

  • Scientist warns of possible climate link to hantavirus outbreaks

    Scientist warns of possible climate link to hantavirus outbreaks

    As a growing body of scientific research investigates whether shifting climate patterns are accelerating the geographic spread of hantavirus – a life-threatening pathogen transmitted primarily through rodents – a leading Caribbean-based biosecurity expert is urging regional communities to boost surveillance, preparedness, and diagnostic capacity to mitigate emerging risks.

    Dr. Kirk Douglas, director of the Centre for Biosecurity Studies at The University of the West Indies’ Cave Hill campus in Barbados, says that while the approaching El Niño event, a climate pattern linked to elevated global temperatures, does not guarantee an imminent hantavirus outbreak in the region, it serves as a critical early warning signal. This signal, he argues, should prompt governments and public health authorities to roll out proactive measures including expanded rodent population monitoring and functional early warning systems where resources allow.

    Global public health data already reflects worrying shifts in hantavirus transmission. Globally, the virus has caused three confirmed fatalities among 13 documented cases to date, and in Argentina – where a high-profile outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship drew international attention in recent weeks – annual confirmed cases have more than doubled over the last 12 months. Scientists are currently working to unpack the specific climate and ecological drivers that are allowing the pathogen to take hold in regions where it was previously rare or undetected.

    Douglas emphasized that the spread of hantavirus and other emerging pathogens into new geographic ranges is not an act of nature, but a consequence of unregulated human activity that disrupts natural ecosystems. “Outbreaks like this remind us that human health is not separate from ecological or environmental health,” he explained. When humans clear forests for resource extraction, reduce biodiversity by oversimplifying natural ecosystems, mismanage solid waste, expand urban development into untouched animal habitats, intensify agricultural production without proper environmental safeguards, and ignore clear climate warning signs, they create far more opportunities for dangerous pathogens to jump across species barriers to humans, he argued.

    Crucially, Douglas stressed that this does not mean nature itself is the enemy. “The problem is unmanaged contact, ecological disruption, and weak preparedness, which all boils down to human behaviour. We need a more respectful, intelligent relationship with the natural world, one that recognises public health, climate resilience, biodiversity, agriculture, tourism, waste management and urban planning, as all part of the same interconnected system.”

    Hantavirus itself is an ancient pathogen, Douglas noted, but the risk it poses to communities today is a distinctly modern challenge tied to human disruption of natural systems. “The health of people, animals and ecosystems…we can no longer govern them separately,” he said. “We have to have transdisciplinary approaches to the way we tackle diseases; and I believe that human behaviour is by far the most critical factor that we need to target.”

    Beyond ecosystem disruption and climate-driven spread, Douglas also warned that widespread misdiagnosis poses a major underaddressed risk to Barbados and the broader Caribbean. Many common regional viral diseases present nearly identical early symptoms: hantavirus, dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and Oropouche virus all cause acute febrile illness that can be hard to distinguish without targeted testing. In many cases, he explained, clinicians default to a diagnosis of dengue – the most common of these pathogens – without conducting confirmatory laboratory testing, simply because it is faster and more convenient. This practice not only hides the true scope of circulating pathogens in the region, but can also delay life-saving treatment for less common diseases like hantavirus.

    To address this gap, Douglas called on clinicians to systematically ask patients about potential exposure risks, including recent travel, contact with rodent populations, activities like cleaning enclosed rarely used spaces, farming, or camping that can increase the chance of encountering the virus. For clinical laboratories, he recommended updating testing protocols to account for exposure history, geographic location, seasonal patterns, and clinical severity, rather than automatically testing only for the most common endemic disease. Drawing on his own doctoral research, which documented cases of co-infection between dengue and hantavirus, Douglas noted that the landscape of circulating pathogens in the Caribbean is shifting rapidly. New pathogens are emerging or being detected every few years, he explained, and many of these may have been present in the region for decades without detection due to lack of targeted testing.

    “Having multiple diagnostics and referral pathways will be very, very important” to address the changing threat landscape, Douglas concluded.

  • UWI researcher contributes to major Lancet series highlighting global kidney disease crisis

    UWI researcher contributes to major Lancet series highlighting global kidney disease crisis

    A leading researcher from The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has contributed her regional expertise to a groundbreaking new series published in *The Lancet*, which sounds the alarm on the rapidly escalating global public health crisis posed by chronic kidney disease (CKD), an underdiagnosed condition that impacts hundreds of millions of people across the world.

    Dr. Lori-Ann Fisher, a consultant nephrologist, intensivist and lecturer based at the Epidemiology Research Unit of The UWI’s Caribbean Institute for Health Research (CAIHR), was invited to join a team of top international specialists assembled to produce the landmark series. The project is led by Dr. Jennifer Lees of the University of Glasgow, and its core conclusion classifies CKD as one of the fastest-growing major threats to global public health, while issuing a urgent call for increased global investment in prevention, early identification, and accessible treatment.

    “Chronic kidney disease remains one of the most concerning conditions currently impacting global health,” Dr. Lees emphasized in the series’ lead commentary. “The overriding message from our series of research papers is that there remains a pressing need for attention and resources to be focused on this condition.”

    Current global data puts CKD as the ninth leading cause of death worldwide, with an estimated 844 million people living with the condition today. If unaddressed, the series warns that current prevalence and mortality trends will push CKD to become the fifth leading cause of global death by 2040. One of the biggest barriers to tackling CKD, researchers note, is its silent progression: the disease often develops with no obvious warning signs through its early and intermediate stages, meaning most cases are only diagnosed once it reaches an advanced stage, when patients already require life-sustaining interventions like dialysis or organ transplantation.

    While the CKD burden is rising globally, low- and middle-income regions with limited public health infrastructure face disproportionate challenges. The Caribbean is no exception: data from the Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey shows that roughly 15 percent of Jamaicans live with CKD, and a large share of those cases are already advanced or at high risk of rapid progression when detected.

    For Dr. Fisher, who has spent her career researching CKD epidemiology, sickle cell-related kidney disease, lupus nephritis, and CKD prevalence across the Caribbean, the key to improving regional outcomes lies in expanding early detection. “We now have accessible medications that treat kidney disease and reduce progression to kidney failure,” she explained. “In the Caribbean, where access to transplant and dialysis is limited, detecting kidney disease early is crucial to improve outcomes. Investment in strengthening healthcare systems to detect and treat kidney disease is paramount for the health of our nations.”

    The *Lancet* series confirms this approach, noting that simple, low-cost blood and urine tests can effectively identify CKD in early stages, dramatically improving patient prognoses. Despite this proven tool, routine CKD screening is not integrated into standard care across most global healthcare systems, particularly in low-resource regions.

    Dr. Fisher’s participation in the series underscores The UWI’s longstanding commitment to addressing pressing regional and global health challenges through rigorous, context-aware research and evidence-based policy advocacy. Beyond her academic and clinical work at The UWI, Fisher currently serves as Chair of the North America and Caribbean Regional Board of the International Society of Nephrology, where she works to amplify Caribbean voice and priorities in global kidney health initiatives.

  • Public Health reports 10 new cases of dengue in the last week

    Public Health reports 10 new cases of dengue in the last week

    Public health officials in the Dominican Republic have released their latest epidemiological update for the 20th surveillance week of the year, outlining new case counts across a range of endemic and infectious diseases, as well as ongoing circulation patterns for common respiratory pathogens. The update, published by the nation’s Ministry of Public Health from the capital Santo Domingo, paints a mixed picture of disease transmission across the country, with most metrics tracking near or below recent seasonal averages.

    On dengue, one of the Caribbean region’s most persistent vector-borne endemic diseases, the ministry confirmed 10 new diagnoses across the country over the seven-day reporting period. This brings the cumulative total of confirmed dengue cases recorded since the start of the year to 111. Geographically, the bulk of cases have been concentrated in just a handful of provinces: La Altagracia leads all regions with 29 total confirmed cases, followed by Valverde with 8. Single additional cumulative cases have been recorded in San Cristóbal, La Vega, and Puerto Plata to date. When compared to the same reporting week in 2025, when 11 new dengue cases were logged, officials noted a small but measurable slight reduction in new infections.

    Turning to another endemic vector-borne illness, malaria, the update recorded four new confirmed cases over the past week. All of the new malaria diagnoses were in male patients, and all were detected in the southwestern province of San Juan. For the full year to date, the cumulative national count of confirmed malaria cases stands at 83. As with dengue, cases are heavily geographically concentrated: Azua province accounts for more than 62 percent of all national cases at 52, while San Juan follows with 20 confirmed cases.

    Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection spread through contact with water contaminated by animal urine, has also been tracked by officials. The ministry’s update puts the cumulative national case count at 149 confirmed infections so far this year, with two new cases added to the tally in the capital province of Santo Domingo during the 20th epidemiological week.

    Beyond infectious disease case counts, the report also included the latest data on maternal and infant mortality. Over the past week, three new maternal deaths and 27 new infant deaths were recorded across the country. Since the start of 2026, the cumulative total of maternal deaths reported nationwide stands at 46.

    On the respiratory virus front, public health authorities confirmed that multiple common pathogens remain in active circulation across the Dominican Republic. These include human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza, adenovirus, and influenza A subtype H3N2. In a key development, officials noted that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has seen a steady increase in case counts over recent weeks and is now the most prevalent circulating respiratory virus in the country. The 20th week update recorded two new confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases, alongside one new case of human metapneumovirus.

    The ministry added that it continues to maintain active surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections (SARI), which are currently circulating alongside less severe influenza-like illness (ILI). As of the latest update, the overall situation for influenza-like illness “remains within expected parameters,” with no unexpected surges or new concerning variants reported.

    As a reminder for the general public, the Ministry of Public Health reissued basic background information on COVID-19: the disease can cause a wide spectrum of severity, ranging from mild cold-like symptoms to life-threatening complications including pneumonia and severe acute respiratory syndrome. Common symptomatic presentations include a dry cough, sore throat, persistent fatigue, loss of smell or taste, shortness of breath, and nasal congestion. The virus spreads primarily through close contact with infected individuals, or via contact with contaminated surfaces and objects.

  • Infectious disease specialist warns of the risk of Ebola to the country

    Infectious disease specialist warns of the risk of Ebola to the country

    SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC — An Ebola outbreak spreading rapidly in the northwest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo demands global vigilance, including targeted preparedness measures from Dominican public health authorities, a leading local infectious disease specialist has warned. Dr. Hector Balcácer stressed that even geographically distant disease outbreaks carry modern spillover risks in an interconnected world, where a person can travel to nearly any corner of the globe in just 36 hours. The DRC has already implemented movement restrictions and quarantine measures to curb transmission, but Balcácer noted the nation shares open borders with nine neighboring countries, and cross-border population movement remains highly fluid in the region.

    In an interview with journalists Ramón García and Tomás Aquino Méndez on the Ahora TV Channel 3 current affairs program *Al punto vespertino*, Balcácer outlined the uniquely dangerous nature of the current outbreak. Unlike previous Ebola events, the virus is spreading at an accelerated pace, and no approved curative treatment or preventative vaccine is currently available. With a mortality rate between 40% and 60% — meaning four to six out of every 10 confirmed infections result in death — the virus poses a severe public health threat wherever it gains a foothold. “The most worrying thing about all of this is that this disease has no treatment, no vaccine, no cure,” Balcácer stated. “Where it arrives, it can cause high mortality. It is a disease that cannot be stopped with existing medical tools.”

    Balcácer commended the ongoing public warnings issued by local and global health authorities, noting that coordinated vigilance remains the most effective defense against cross-border spread. Contrary to widespread public anxiety, however, the specialist clarified that the outbreak is not currently projected to develop into a full global pandemic. The swift implementation of quarantine and movement restrictions by the DRC government has already slowed potential spread, reducing the immediate global risk.

    Even so, Balcácer insisted that Dominican authorities must adopt extreme precautionary measures to block the virus from entering the country, given its lethal characteristics and lack of targeted treatment. Alongside his warning about Ebola, the specialist also addressed the ongoing circulation of more common seasonal viruses within the Dominican Republic, a situation the country’s Ministry of Health has already publicly reported. Currently circulating pathogens include seasonal influenza, adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 — though Balcácer noted current COVID-19 variants are far less lethal than earlier strains.

    To prevent severe complications from these common viruses, Balcácer urged Dominican residents to seek prompt medical care as soon as symptoms develop, a step that significantly reduces the risk of severe illness. He added that patients over 70 years old require particularly rapid and rigorous care to avoid life-threatening complications. For those with access to testing resources, Balcácer recommended taking a COVID-19 test when experiencing viral symptoms to rule out infection and enable appropriate care.