GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands  (CMC) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) says Caribbean countries have united in tackling vector-born disease threats, such as dengue and arboviral.

On Friday PAHO reported that regional countries participated in a three-day Regional Vector-Borne Disease Workshop here under the theme, “Networking for Improved Responsiveness.”

Organised in collaboration with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the Government of the Cayman Islands, and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), PAHO said the workshop brought together representatives from over 15 Caribbean nations to address the urgent threat of vector-borne diseases (VBDs).

PAHO said arboviruses, such as dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya and Zika viruses are significant public health threats in tropical and subtropical areas, with their frequency and impact on the rise.

“In response to this growing threat, the workshop provided a platform for regional and international experts to discuss critical areas such as surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, community engagement, and vector control,” PAHO said.

In line with the Global Arbovirus Initiative, it said workshop participants focused on strengthening vector control, fostering innovation, and building cross-sector partnerships to address arboviruses with epidemic potential.

Launched on March 31, 2022, PAHO said the initiative is a collaborative effort within the World Health Organization, involving its Health Emergencies Program, the Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, and the Immunization, Vaccines, and Biologicals Department, along with a growing network of international partners from multiple sectors.

In addressing the workshop, Dwayne Seymour, Acting Minister for Health for the Cayman Islands, emphasised the importance of collective action in tackling public health challenges.

“Vector-borne illnesses are among the most urgent threats to public health today, and the solution lies in collaboration,” he said.

During the event, PAHO said it showcased a comprehensive approach to tackling VBDs in the Americas, including the Caribbean, supported by the Integrated Management Strategy of Arbovirus (IMS-Arbovirus).

PAHO said delegates had the opportunity to update their knowledge on concrete breakthroughs in implementing IMS-Arbovirus, such as strengthening the Network of Arbovirus Diagnostic Laboratories of the Americas, improving surveillance data analysis with the Health Information Platform for the Americas (PLISA), and making significant progress in the Plan of Action on Entomology and Vector Control 2018-2023.

PAHO said the importance of collaboration among member states and organisations, such as CARPHA and UKHSA, was also highlighted “to leverage and sustain efforts to reduce the burden of VBDs across the region.”

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