Carib Scope

分类： health

  • Belize Raises Ebola Alert as WHO Declares International Emergency

    Belize Raises Ebola Alert as WHO Declares International Emergency

    In response to the World Health Organization’s classification of the expanding Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), Belize’s Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) released an urgent public advisory on Thursday, May 30, 2026, activating enhanced national Ebola surveillance protocols. As of the advisory’s release, no suspected or confirmed Ebola cases have been detected in the Central American nation, but public health officials have moved quickly to scale up entry screening at every official port of entry across the country.

    The ongoing outbreak is driven by the rare Bundibugyo Ebola strain, a variant for which no globally approved vaccine or targeted antiviral treatment is currently available. Congolese health officials first confirmed the outbreak’s presence on May 15, 2026. Just four days later, by May 19, official counts had already surpassed 500 suspected cases and 130 suspected deaths across affected regions. On May 17, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus formally designated the crisis a PHEIC — the highest level of global public health alarm defined by the International Health Regulations — stopping short of upgrading the classification to a full pandemic emergency. Following the cross-border spread of the virus into its territory, Uganda quickly moved to close its entire land border with the DRC to contain transmission.

    In its official advisory, Belize’s MOHW emphasized that the current population-level risk of Ebola transmission within the country remains low, but stressed that proactive pre-emptive measures are critical to preventing an imported outbreak. The ministry has launched a coordinated cross-agency response, partnering with the Belize Airport Authority, national border management services, immigration departments, customs authorities, civil aviation regulators, major cruise line operators, and commercial airline partners to reinforce screening protocols and rapid response workflows at all international airports, land border crossings, and commercial seaports.

    Travel officials are urging all incoming visitors to provide complete and accurate information about their recent travel history to border inspection agents. As a precautionary step, any traveler returning from the affected Central African regions is advised to complete a voluntary self-isolation period to monitor for potential symptoms. Any individual who has traveled to the outbreak zone and develops consistent symptoms is instructed to contact the MOHW’s dedicated 24/7 helpline at 0-800-MOH-CARE immediately, and to avoid close contact with other people while arranging for medical evaluation.

    Ebola is an uncommon but frequently fatal viral pathogen that spreads primarily through direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids from an infected person, whether symptomatic or deceased. The virus’ incubation period ranges from 2 to 21 days after exposure, with early stage symptoms including high fever, extreme fatigue, muscle ache, headache, and sore throat. As the disease progresses, patients often develop vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, unexplained hemorrhaging, and widespread rashes. Historically, the Bundibugyo strain has recorded a case fatality rate between 30% and 50% among confirmed infections.

  • World No Tobacco Day: Pulmonologists warn about diseases caused by smoking

    World No Tobacco Day: Pulmonologists warn about diseases caused by smoking

    To mark World No Tobacco Day, leading pulmonology specialists in the Dominican Republic have issued urgent warnings about the severe public health risks of tobacco and nicotine use, particularly for adolescent populations, alongside rolling out new community initiatives to expand smoke-free public spaces across the country.

    Maribel Jorge, president of the Dominican Society of Pulmonology and Chest Surgery, outlined the specific harms of early nicotine exposure in an official press statement. Unlike fully developed adult brains, adolescent brains are uniquely vulnerable to nicotine’s impact: early use permanently disrupts healthy neurodevelopment, drastically raises the likelihood of lifelong addiction, and lays the groundwork for a wide range of life-altering chronic conditions. Jorge emphasized that consistent nicotine and tobacco use is directly linked to elevated rates of respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, and multiple forms of cancer.

    Citing global data from the World Health Organization (WHO), Jorge reminded the public that tobacco use remains one of the deadliest preventable public health threats worldwide. The WHO estimates tobacco use claims more than 7 million lives annually, with roughly 1.6 million of those deaths occurring among non-smokers who suffer from exposure to toxic secondhand smoke. Domestically, Jorge confirmed tobacco smoking continues to be the leading preventable cause of lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the Dominican Republic. Beyond these primary conditions, regular tobacco consumption worsens pre-existing conditions such as asthma, diminishes overall lung capacity, weakens immune response to infections, and causes a steep, measurable decline in quality of life for regular users.

    Jorge stressed that the global public health community faces an evolving threat from tobacco and nicotine industries, which constantly redesign, rebrand, and market their products to hook new young consumers – specifically targeting children, adolescents, and young women. In alignment with this year’s WHO World No Tobacco Day campaign focused on exposing industry manipulation, the Dominican Society of Pulmonology has joined the global effort to raise public awareness of these deceptive tactics and reduce nicotine and tobacco addiction across the country. Current data shows roughly 20% of the Dominican population still uses tobacco products, and Jorge noted that the public health challenge extends far beyond combustible cigarettes: nicotine addiction itself, regardless of product type, remains a core ongoing threat.

    To address this crisis, Jorge has called on national government authorities and municipal leaders across the Dominican Republic to strengthen three core lines of defense: expanded public prevention outreach, stricter regulatory controls on tobacco product sales and marketing, and broader public education campaigns about the risks of nicotine use. These policy efforts, she argued, are critical to cutting overall consumption rates and protecting the public’s respiratory health for current and future generations.

    As a concrete step toward advancing this goal, the Dominican Society of Pulmonology partnered with municipal leaders in Higüey, a city in the Dominican Republic’s La Altagracia province, to launch the country’s first smoke-free public park, alongside inaugurating a symbolic ‘Blue Bench’ in the city’s Health Park. The project was developed in collaboration with Higüey Mayor Karina Aristy, and backed by an official resolution from the Higüey City Council to formalize the park’s smoke-free status.

    During the inauguration event, Dr. Jorge explained that the Blue Bench serves as a public symbol of the country’s growing commitment to creating smoke-free public spaces, and upholding every citizen’s fundamental right to breathe clean, toxin-free air. The initiative is intended to serve as a model for other Dominican municipalities to develop their own smoke-free public park programs across the country.

  • Two patients with Ebola-like symptoms in isolation in Brazil

    Two patients with Ebola-like symptoms in isolation in Brazil

    BRASÍLIA, Brazil – Public health authorities in Brazil have confirmed that two international travelers arriving from African nations have been placed in quarantine isolation after developing clinical symptoms consistent with Ebola virus disease, a development that has sparked global awareness of the potential for the deadly pathogen to spread beyond its current African epicenter.

    The first suspected case involves a 37-year-old male who recently returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the ground zero of the ongoing Ebola outbreak. In a public statement released Saturday, the Sao Paulo state government noted the patient had developed Ebola-defining symptoms, including a high fever. He was immediately moved to a specialized isolation ward at the Emilio Ribas Institute of Infectious Diseases, one of Brazil’s leading infectious disease treatment facilities.

    In a follow-up update released Sunday, health officials shared that initial diagnostics have identified a severe case of meningitis in the patient, but additional confirmatory testing for Ebola is still ongoing to rule out the viral infection.

    A second suspected case is being monitored in Rio de Janeiro, where a male traveler who entered the country from Uganda on May 22 was placed in isolation after presenting a suite of viral symptoms including persistent cough, body chills, and diarrhea. Local Rio de Janeiro City Hall representatives confirmed to AFP on Sunday that the patient has already tested positive for malaria, though the case remains active under epidemiological investigation to exclude Ebola as a co-infection or alternative diagnosis.

    The current Ebola outbreak in central Africa has already grown to alarming proportions. On Thursday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported that since the outbreak was formally declared on May 15, the DRC has recorded more than 1,000 suspected Ebola cases, with the death toll nearing 250. Neighboring Uganda has also been impacted, with multiple confirmed infections and one recorded death attributed to the virus.

    The World Health Organization has issued a stark warning that the actual scope of the outbreak is likely far larger than official counts indicate. Because the virus was circulating quietly in the DRC for some time before it was detected by surveillance systems, many cases are believed to have gone unreported.

    Despite the triggering of precautionary measures for the two suspected cases, Sao Paulo’s state health department emphasized that the broader risk of Ebola establishing a foothold in Brazil and the wider South American region remains extremely low based on current technical risk assessments.

  • Urgent! Are you A+ or O+? They are requesting help with a blood donation.

    Urgent! Are you A+ or O+? They are requesting help with a blood donation.

    A local medical appeal has been issued calling for eligible members of the public to step forward and donate A positive or O positive blood for a patient requiring an urgent transfusion. To ensure the safety of both donors and the receiving patient, all potential donors must meet a clear set of basic eligibility requirements set out by the organizing team.

    First, donors must abstain from consuming any alcohol for a full 48 hours before scheduled donation. Next, candidates must not have undergone any tattoo procedures, invasive surgeries, or body piercings within the past 12 months, as these procedures carry temporary risks of infection that could compromise blood safety. Donors must also be free of influenza and other acute contagious illnesses at the time of the planned donation.

    Additionally, all potential donors are required to bring an official document that confirms their blood type; acceptable documents include government-issued ID cards, driver’s licenses, or official blood typing records. For female donors, an extra requirement applies: donors must have completed their most recent menstrual cycle at least 20 days prior to the planned donation date to ensure donor health and blood quality.

    Any eligible individual who is able and willing to donate blood is encouraged to contact Leidy Sahilys Terrero directly at (849) 650-0684 to get further details about the donation process, scheduling, and donation location. This urgent appeal relies on community solidarity to help the patient access the life-saving transfusion they need.

  • Belize tightens border surveillance in light of Ebola virus

    Belize tightens border surveillance in light of Ebola virus

    BELMOPAN, Belize — Caribbean media reports confirm that Belize’s national government has issued a formal appeal to travelers arriving from Ebola-impacted zones across East and Central Africa, calling for full transparency when disclosing recent travel history to border and entry officials.

    As of the latest update, no confirmed cases of the lethal viral pathogen have been detected within Belize’s borders, but the country’s Ministry of Health and Wellness has already enacted elevated public health monitoring protocols to pre-empt a potential outbreak. Officials have reminded all incoming travelers, regardless of entry point—whether by air, land, or sea—to maintain personal vigilance for any developing symptoms linked to the disease.

    Health authorities have outlined clear guidance for anyone who has visited an affected region and begins to show hallmark Ebola symptoms: contact local public health teams immediately to access testing and care. In a public statement, the ministry expanded on these protocols, noting, “Travelers are encouraged to provide accurate information regarding recent travel to border officials. Travelers who are able to self-isolate are encouraged to do so. Persons with symptoms must avoid close contact with others while seeking medical attention.”

    Ebola, a rare but frequently fatal viral illness, spreads primarily through direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids from an infected person, whether that individual is symptomatic or deceased. The disease’s incubation period can span from two days to three weeks after exposure, with initial symptoms typically including sudden fever, extreme fatigue, muscle soreness, head pain, and sore throat. As the illness progresses, these early signs are often followed by vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, unexplained hemorrhaging, and skin rashes.

    While public health officials have stressed that the current risk of an Ebola outbreak in Belize remains low for the general population, the ministry has launched a coordinated cross-agency effort to strengthen entry screening and emergency response across all points of entry into the country. Partner agencies include the Belize Airport Authority, national border management services, immigration and customs departments, civil aviation regulators, cruise line operators, and commercial airline partners. This collaborative effort is focused on standardizing robust screening procedures at international airports, land border crossings, and commercial seaports to quickly identify and isolate any potential cases.

    The ministry added that it will continue tracking the evolving global Ebola situation with close attention, and will issue timely public updates to the Belizean population as new developments emerge.

  • Jamaica free of Ebola cases, eight travellers placed in quarantine — Health Ministry

    Jamaica free of Ebola cases, eight travellers placed in quarantine — Health Ministry

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — Amid growing global concern over the spread of the Ebola virus, Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness has moved quickly to calm public unease, confirming the island nation has not recorded any confirmed Ebola infections to date. At the same time, officials have disclosed that eight incoming international travellers have been ordered into mandatory self-quarantine, following the country’s established public health safety frameworks.

    The eight individuals were flagged through stepped-up screening and monitoring protocols implemented at all of Jamaica’s ports of entry. Health authorities detected the travellers after confirming they had either departed from or passed through countries currently facing an Ebola outbreak within the 21-day incubation window of the virus, a key threshold for monitoring potential exposure.

    The quarantined passengers arrived on separate flights into the country, and all completed initial health screenings conducted by trained medical personnel stationed at airport health checkpoints. After receiving official public health counselling outlining quarantine requirements and virus symptom checks, the group entered mandated self-quarantine. Local public health departments have since assumed responsibility for ongoing monitoring of the individuals’ health status.

    In a reassuring update shared with media, health authorities confirmed that none of the eight quarantined travellers have developed any of the telltale symptoms linked to Ebola infection. Building on that update, the ministry emphasized in an official statement released Saturday that secondary transmission to other passengers on the affected flights is extremely unlikely, meaning there is no elevated risk to other members of the travelling public who were on those journeys.

    The proactive screening and quarantine measures currently in place are not new emergency rules, but rather an expansion of Jamaica’s long-standing entry surveillance system that was updated following an official public service announcement issued May 25. The revised protocol formalizes a requirement that all travellers originating from Ebola-impacted regions enter quarantine immediately upon arriving in Jamaica.

    Alongside its entry monitoring efforts, public health officials are urging all Jamaican residents to scrutinize upcoming international travel plans, strongly advising against non-essential travel to or transit through countries currently grappling with the ongoing Ebola outbreak.

    The Ministry of Health and Wellness has reaffirmed its commitment to full transparency with the Jamaican public, promising to push out timely, factually accurate updates on the Ebola situation exclusively through its verified official communication channels.

    In a closing appeal, the ministry called on all members of the public — including social media users, content creators, bloggers, and vloggers — to double-check the source of any Ebola-related information before sharing it online or in personal conversations. Officials specifically warned against the spread of unconfirmed misinformation about the virus, noting that inaccurate, unvetted reports can trigger unnecessary widespread anxiety across the population. They encouraged all Jamaicans to only rely on official, authorized public health sources for information related to Ebola and other public health risks.

  • Calvin Ayre Foundation Supports Two Urgent Medical Transfers Through Partnership with MBS and CalvinAir

    Calvin Ayre Foundation Supports Two Urgent Medical Transfers Through Partnership with MBS and CalvinAir

    Two residents facing life-threatening cardiac emergencies have received a second chance at survival, thanks to a coordinated partnership between three regional organizations that removed critical barriers to accessing specialized treatment unavailable locally.

    Arthur James and Kenneth Edwards both suffered acute cardiac events that required intervention far beyond the capabilities of local healthcare facilities. Recognizing the time-sensitive nature of their conditions, the Calvin Ayre Foundation (CAF), the Medical Benefits Scheme (MBS), and private aviation provider CalvinAir moved quickly to arrange emergency medical transfers for the pair to Martinique, where specialized cardiac care is accessible.

    For James, who needed urgent invasive intervention after a severe heart attack, the cost of his specialized medical procedures was fully covered by the MBS. CAF and CalvinAir handled the logistics of the urgent cross-border transfer, coordinating with medical teams on both ends to ensure no critical delays disrupted his care. Edwards, who also required urgent out-of-country intervention following his own cardiac event, was transferred alongside James, cutting down on logistics time and getting both patients to care faster.

    In the wake of the successful transfer, the families of both patients shared their profound gratitude for the rapid, coordinated support they received. James and his family noted that the intervention from the partnering groups came at their darkest moment, giving them renewed hope and ensuring James could access the life-saving treatment he needed immediately.

    Valerie Edwards, Kenneth Edwards’ sister, echoed that praise, highlighting the relentless work of all involved organizations from the moment her brother was admitted to the local hospital. She emphasized that the seamless collaboration between local medical providers, the MBS, CalvinAir, and CAF made a direct, life-saving difference that her family will never forget.

    Patrice Jacobs, media and production associate at CAF, reaffirmed the foundation’s long-standing commitment to supporting local residents facing urgent, out-of-the-ordinary medical needs. “When serious medical emergencies arise, access to timely treatment can be life changing,” Jacobs explained. “We are grateful to work alongside MBS and CalvinAir to help ensure that patients receive the specialized care they need when local options are unavailable.”

    The successful transfer and treatment arrangement for the two patients stands as a powerful example of what collective action around a shared humanitarian goal can achieve. By partnering to remove logistical and financial barriers to critical care, the cross-organizational collaboration has given both patients the best possible chance at a full recovery.

  • Miragoâne prepares to host a large free surgical caravan

    Miragoâne prepares to host a large free surgical caravan

    In less than two weeks, the coastal town of Miragoâne in Haiti’s Nippes Department will open its doors to a landmark free public health initiative, a large-scale surgical caravan organized by the country’s Ministry of Public Health. Preparations have entered their final phase, with local and national health teams working around the clock to deliver much-needed specialized care to underserved patients across the region.

    Following a comprehensive site evaluation by Ministry representatives Dr. Nesi Floris and Dr. Jacques Richard Petit-Ton, Sainte-Thérèse Hospital in Miragoâne was selected as the primary hub for the caravan’s operations. The evaluation team assessed the facility’s infrastructure, tested existing medical equipment, and mapped out gaps that would need to be filled ahead of the first surgical procedures, confirming the hospital was equipped to support the high volume of planned cases.

    To streamline planning and execution, Departmental Health Director Dr. Esther Ceus Dumont has overseen the establishment of a dedicated cross-functional working committee. Led by Eluderne Dénius, Coordinator of the Miragoâne Health District, the committee is responsible for coordinating all pre-operation activities: from outreach to identify eligible patients across every corner of the department, to organizing mandatory pre-operative health assessments that will ensure patients are cleared for surgery.

    The initiative draws on a collaborative network of medical professionals, including the long-serving Cuban medical brigade deployed to Haiti, alongside local specialists and providers mobilized from national central health institutions. The multidisciplinary care team includes general surgeons, anesthesiologists, gynecologists, internists, sonographers, and experienced nursing and technical support staff. Sainte-Thérèse Hospital Director Dr. Amondieu Gabriel, a practicing surgeon himself, has been a core contributor to preparation efforts, integrating the hospital’s existing staff into the caravan’s workflow.

    Already, pre-campaign outreach and assessment work has delivered concrete results. A large mobile screening clinic was recently set up in the neighboring town of Anse-à-Veau, where care providers evaluated nearly 100 patients with unmet surgical needs. Early triage found that the majority of patients presented with hernias and hydroceles, alongside a significant number of general surgery cases including gallbladder disease and hemorrhoids, plus a small number of gynecological conditions requiring intervention.

    The data collected during these mobile screenings has already built a comprehensive registry of patients waiting for surgery, with candidates pre-categorized and pre-positioned for quick access to the mobile surgical unit once the caravan officially launches. This pre-screening process is designed to cut wait times and ensure the caravan can serve as many patients as possible during its run.

    The free surgical caravan is a direct fulfillment of a campaign commitment made by Haiti’s Minister of Health Dr. Bertrand Sinal, who first announced the nationwide free surgery program to address the growing unmet surgical needs of low-income Haitian communities. For thousands of residents across Nippes Department who have delayed life-improving care for months or even years due to financial barriers and limited access to specialized services, the initiative will be life-changing: it will give these patients access to free, high-quality surgical care and help them regain the quality of life they have been unable to access until now.

  • Officials Say Nicotine Addiction Drives Vape Industry Profits

    Officials Say Nicotine Addiction Drives Vape Industry Profits

    Ahead of the upcoming World No Tobacco Day, health authorities and international public health organizations have convened a national youth-focused forum in Belize to confront the growing public health threat posed by the tobacco and vape industry, calling out the sector’s deliberate business model built on sustaining nicotine addiction to drive repeated profits.

    Hosted jointly by Belize’s Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the National Tobacco Youth Forum held on May 29, 2026, serves dual purposes: it delivers evidence-based education to young people on the severe harms of all tobacco products, especially modern alternatives like vapes and e-cigarettes, and creates a space for youth to share their own experiences and concerns about industry outreach in their communities. This event marks the launch of a nationwide series of public awareness initiatives designed to counter misleading industry marketing.

    Esner Vellos, director of Belize’s National Drug Abuse Control Council (NDACC), condemned the industry’s deceptive marketing tactics that frame vaping products as glamorous, trendy, and socially desirable to hook new young users. He highlighted a particularly worrying emerging trend: a steady rise in tobacco and vape use among young women, a demographic that has become a key target for industry advertising campaigns.

    Misleading promotion across social media has fostered a dangerous misconception among large swathes of Belize’s youth: that vaping is a safer, less harmful alternative to traditional cigarette smoking. Health officials emphasize that this widespread belief is entirely false. Vellos stressed that contrary to popular marketing claims, vapes still contain thousands of toxic chemicals linked to the development of cancer and other life-threatening chronic conditions.

    Dr. Karen Lewis-Bell, PAHO/World Health Organization representative for Belize, expanded on the industry’s strategic targeting of young consumers. Tobacco companies now design vapes with trendy flavors and modern, appealing packaging to deliberately downplay risks and position the products as harmless recreational items for young people. At their core, these products are engineered to leverage the powerful addictive properties of nicotine. “The most addictive substance in cigarettes is the nicotine. And so the vapes now focus on the addictive substance because the industry really wants to get you hooked and get your money over and over and over again,” Lewis-Bell explained.

    Beyond cancer, long-term use of vapes and other nicotine products carries severe chronic health risks, including heart disease, stroke, chronic lung disease, and aggravated asthma, according to public health experts. As the first in a planned series of events, the National Tobacco Youth Forum kicks off a sustained effort to correct misinformation and protect Belize’s younger generation from the predatory practices of the vape and tobacco industry.

  • Brazilië ondersteunt Suriname met 100.000 vaccins en malariamedicatie

    Brazilië ondersteunt Suriname met 100.000 vaccins en malariamedicatie

    Suriname’s Bureau for Public Health (BOG) has received a substantial donation of life-saving health commodities from the Brazilian government, aimed at strengthening the country’s national public health and immunization infrastructure. The formal handover of the donation took place on Wednesday, with Brazilian Ambassador Felipe Costi Santarosa presenting the supplies to BOG representatives.

    The donation package includes 100,000 doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), 1,500 rapid COVID-19 tests, and 200 doses of tafenoquine, a first-line medication used for malaria treatment. These supplies were specifically requested by Suriname’s Ministry of Health to reinforce ongoing national immunization initiatives, according to Richard Kartomo, manager of BOG’s National Immunization Program (NIP), who accepted the donation on NIP’s behalf.

    Kartomo explained that the additional vaccines will help the country expand coverage of its routine vaccination programs, bringing Suriname closer to meeting its key national public health targets. All donated supplies have already been safely stored at BOG facilities, clearing the way for the immediate rollout of targeted immunization activities. The upcoming campaign will prioritize vaccinating children under five years old to protect them against life-threatening pneumococcal infections, a leading cause of child mortality in many low- and middle-income countries.

    Notably, frontline health workers involved in delivering the program have already completed specialized training over recent months, meaning all preparations for the campaign are finalized. With the arrival of the donated vaccines, the program can launch without delay.

    This donation is part of the deepening bilateral public health and cooperation partnership between Suriname and Brazil. Over the past several years, the two nations have steadily expanded collaboration in the areas of public health capacity building and infectious disease control, with this contribution marking another milestone in their shared commitment to improving regional health outcomes.