WASHINGTON, DC – Director of the Pan Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Carissa Etienne, Wednesday said prevention remains a major key in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and Monkeypox in the Americas, including the Caribbean.
Dr. Carissa Etienne (File Photo)The Dominican-born PAHO director said that the two viruses remain a “significant threat’ to the region, with the COVID-19 accounting for millions of infection and deaths since the first case was detected two years ago.
She said despite a decrease in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the Americas, “hundreds of people are still dying every day from COVID-19 across our region” and “yet countries have scaled back their public health measures while millions remain unvaccinated.”
PAHO said while most vaccines delivered in the Americas are for boosters, 10 countries and territories have yet to fully vaccinate even 40 per cent of their populations and some people have yet to receive a single vaccine dose.
“We must not and cannot be complacent, because this virus is still circulating, still evolving, and new variants can still emerge,” said Dr. Etienne, calling on countries to prioritize those who remain unprotected, including children who return to school this month.
Regarding the Monkeypox outbreak, the PAHO Director noted that over 30,000 cases have been reported in the region, making the Americas the global epicenter of the pandemic.
Most cases are concentrated in the United States, Brazil, Peru and Canada, and primarily among men who have sex with men, although at least 145 cases have been reported in women and 54 among people under the age of 18.
Following a request from member states during a special session of the PAHO Directing Council in August, PAHO secured a deal with the manufacturer of the Monkeypox vaccine to make this available to countries in the region.
However, with vaccines in short supply and no effective treatment for Monkeypox, Dr. Etienne urged countries to “intensify efforts to prevent the spread of the virus.”
This includes effective communication campaigns, using pragmatic, honest, targeted messages “so that everyone knows how Monkeypox is spread, how to identify specific symptoms and when to seek medical attention”.
The PAHO Director also called for increasing and decentralizing testing capacity, particularly for high-risk populations, and ensuring that healthcare workers are trained to identify symptoms and provide high-quality, respectful care.
She also urged countries to address stigma surrounding the disease as this prevents those at risk from accessing information, getting tested, or seeking medical attention.
“Stigma has no place in public health. If we aren’t proactive in overcoming these barriers, Monkeypox will spread in silence.”
PAHO said it is currently working with countries to prioritize limited vaccine doses for high-risk groups and to strengthen testing. It has also developed guidance and workshops to support country efforts to engage affected communities.
“As we saw with the global COVID-19 response, access to resources and sustained collaboration are key to stopping a virus. An effective public health response requires us to be decisive, to act fast and prioritize support for the most vulnerable in our region,” said Dr. Etienne.
