The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has stressed the need for a coordinated regional response to the Zika virus after the World Health Organization on Monday declared an international emergency over the virus.
To date, Zika has been confirmed in five CARICOM territories and a number of other Caribbean jurisdictions have also reported Zika transmission.
According to Caribbean News Now, CARPHA has prepared a policy brief for the Intersessional meeting of CARICOM heads of government on February 16th -17th in Belize, which will give policy recommendations for strengthening national and regional action in the face of this threat, building on their 17th special session in November 2014 on public health threats.
Additionally, in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization, CARPHA will soon launch a Caribbean Mosquito Control Awareness Week, which has been agreed with the Council of Health Ministers.
