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Public health response and lessons learned from the 2014 chikungunya epidemic in Grenada

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Date
2017-06
Author
Forde, Martin S.
Martin, Francis
Mitchell, George
Bidaisee, Satesh
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Abstract
In June 2014, the first cases of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) were diagnosed on the island of Carriacou, part of the tri-island state of Grenada. In the three months that followed, CHIKV spread rapidly, with conservative estimates of the population infected of at least 60%. Multiple challenges were encountered in the battle to manage the spread and impact of this high–attack rate virus, including 1) limited indigenous laboratory diagnostic capabilities; 2) an under-resourced health care system; 3) a skeptical general public, hesitant to accept facts about the origin and mode of transmission of the new virus; and 4) resistance to the vector control strategies used. Lessons learned from the outbreak included the need for 1) a robust and reliable epidemiological surveillance system; 2) effective strategies for communicating with the general population; 3) exploration of other methods of mosquito vector control; and 4) a careful review of all health care policies and protocols to ensure that effective, organized responses are triggered when an infectious outbreak occurs.
 
En junio del 2014, se diagnosticaron los primeros casos de infección por el virus del chikungunya (CHIKV) en la isla de Carriacou, perteneciente al Estado triinsular de Granada. En los tres meses siguientes, el CHIKV se diseminó con rapidez, llegando a afectar, según cálculos moderados, al menos al 60% de la población. Se encontraron varias dificultades en la batalla por controlar la propagación y las consecuencias de este virus que tiene una alta tasa de ataque, a saber: 1) limitaciones de la capacidad de diagnóstico de los laboratorios locales; 2) escasez de recursos del sistema de atención de salud; 3) escepticismo general del público, reacio a aceptar los datos sobre el origen y la vía de transmisión del nuevo virus; y 4) resistencia a las estrategias empleadas para controlar los vectores. Entre las enseñanzas extraídas del brote cabe señalar la necesidad de lo siguiente: 1) un sistema sólido y confiable de vigilancia epidemiológica; 2) estrategias eficaces para comunicarse con la población general; 3) exploración de otros métodos de control de mosquitos vectores; y 4) un examen meticuloso de todas las políticas y protocolos de atención de salud para garantizar que se activen respuestas eficaces y organizadas cuando se produce un brote infeccioso.
 
Translated title
Respuesta de salud pública y enseñanzas extraídas de la epidemia de chikungunya del 2014 en Granada
Series
Rev Panam Salud Publica;41, jun. 2017
Subject
Chikungunya virus; Grenada; Caribbean Region; Virus Chikungunya
Category of PAHO Strategic Plan 2014-2019
Cat 1. Communicable Diseases
URI
https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/34105
Citation
Forde MS, Martin F, Mitchell G, Bidaisee S. Public health response and lessons learned from the 2014 chikungunya epidemic in Grenada. Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2017;41:e57.
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  • Pan American Journal of Public Health

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