New Caribbean network publishes resources and research recommendations

Critical support to the Zika outbreak

An expanded and integrated Caribbean network initiated by TDR in late 2015 has been a valuable resource during the Zika outbreak. The group’s original goal was to increase communication and coordination, in part to support outbreaks like Zika.

The group has released a preliminary list of research and laboratory facilities in the region, as well as draft recommendations for research and surveillance. The network was initiated by TDR to support a broader system for shared data collection and analysis. It includes not only clinical and laboratory expertise and epidemiologists, but also entomologists for outbreak preparedness and response planning.

Terrence Deyalsingh, Minister of Health, Trinidad and Tobago, speaking to the media

The Caribbean is a perfect environment for Zika transmission, where a warm climate and the movement of people within and into the region threaten control. At a December 2015 meeting in Trinidad and Tobago, the country’s minister of health, Terrence Deyalsingh, was already anticipating the Zika situation when he told members that “there are some concerns that Zika will come to T&T at some point. Given the environmental impact of globalization, urbanisation and climate change, the Caribbean region will continue to wage war with emerging and re-emerging vector-borne diseases.”

Representatives from 34 countries and territories were discussing control challenges and identifying gaps that can be filled with better coordination and communication. TDR awarded a grant in 2015 to strengthen regional collaboration to a new consortium of four partners: The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA); Pedro Kouri Institute of Cuba; The Pasteur Institute of Guadeloupe (part of the international Pasteur Institutes network), and the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St Kitts and Nevis.

This network has been utilized heavily during the current Zika outbreak, to the point where it is driving most of the members’ attention. During the coming year, they are not only working together on this disease, but also developing a broader agenda that can put in place stronger prevention and surveillance.

Meeting recommendations

• Convene a regional meeting to focus discussion on vector control programmes in the Caribbean.
• Consider development of a vector-borne disease research agenda. There is limited literature from the Caribbean on the psychosocial, economic and long-term impact of VBDs.
• Continue in-country implementation of WHO and Pan American Health Organization recommended strategies of Integrated Management Strategy for Dengue Prevention and Control (IMS-DEN).
• Increase the availability of economic impact data for VBDs for better advocacy with policy-makers to make more resources available for disease control efforts.
• Identify at least five potentially impactful priority thematic areas and consider establishing thematic working groups to identify gaps and needs and report on progress by the time of another meeting to be scheduled in the first quarter of 2016.
• Continue training and technology transfer efforts, to increase in-country capacities for laboratory diagnosis of dengue, chikungunya and Zika virus.
• Develop or update guidelines on reporting and dissemination of country data on vector-borne diseases (VBD) to better inform health and non-health professionals and the public.
• Develop a communication strategy for the mass media on VBD control and prevention, data sharing, and the need for community involvement in vector control.
• Collaborate with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) to identify Caribbean experts who could assist with international outbreak responses to allow for capacity building and sharing of experiences.
• Foster collaboration among member countries, international public health agencies, developmental partners, academia, technical and financial partners to strengthen VBD control programmes in the Caribbean.
• Foster regional and international collaboration and partnerships, to assist with strengthening epidemiology and laboratory practice, laboratory infrastructure for safe operations, training of personnel, and, improvement of data management and disease reporting practices.
• Expand the role of the Regional Dengue Laboratory Network (RELDA) in the Americas beyond dengue prevention and control to include strengthening of laboratory capacities for emerging and endemic Arboviruses and support for dengue virus vaccine introduction and impact evaluation.

For more information, contact: Dr Florence Fouque