Great Bay (DCOMM):--- Nirmala Vlaun, Surveillance Officer and Eva de Weever, Epidemiologist of Collective Prevention Services (CPS) attended a workshop on June 1-2 in Barbados entitled "Preventing the Reintroduction of Malaria in Non-Endemic Countries."
Malaria is a disease caused by the parasite Plasmodium, which is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. Only the Anopheles genus of the mosquito can transmit Malaria.
Malaria cases have declined 56 per cent in Latin America since 2000, while deaths have declined by 70 per cent.
The two-day workshop was sponsored by the Pan American Organization (PAHO) and focused on strategies for preventing the reintroduction of malaria, interventions and mechanisms to respond to malaria outbreaks.
The meeting also served as a platform to provide an orientation regarding the Strategy and Plan of Action for Malaria in the Americas 2011-2015 and PAHO's Biennial Work Plan.
CPS surveillance team regarded the meeting as opportune and enlightening to the development and strengthening of the vector control and surveillance team.
An efficient vector control unit is crucial to preparedness and prompt response to the community needs, as it pertains to vector-borne diseases.
Participants attending the conference included countries of Dutch, French, and English-speaking Caribbean, which are all vulnerable and susceptible to malaria.
Caribbean countries that had recent malaria outbreaks provided the group with insight/overview on how this was handled (surveillance, case investigation/follow-up, vector control strategies, etc.).