The patient awoke on February 22 with a fever of 37.5 degrees, by the evening of the 23rd the young doctor had begun to experience joint pain with a rash also appearing on her face and torso. On the 24th she was admitted to the Pedro Kouri Institute of Tropical Medicine, where she is currently hospitalized. She has been free from fever since her admittance, is currently showing signs of good health with no trace of conjunctivitis, while the rash has begun to fade.

The patient reported that her husband had been clinically diagnosed with Zika two months ago while her brother-in-law had contracted the virus two weeks prior to her departure.

On February 25 the results of a CRP blood test taken on the patient’s admittance to hospital proved negative for Zika; however given the patient’s symptoms and epidemiological background the test was repeated on February 28, with the results proving positive for the Zika virus on February 29th.

The other Venezuelan professionals are currently being monitored, although none have presented symptoms thus far.

(Granma)

Representatives of the bloc will review the epidemiological situation affecting the region, with cases of the Zika virus reported in several islands while the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) noted the strong possibility of the disease spreading to other countries in the area.

The organization must present an action plan to tackle the eventual spread of the virus before the forum.

CARICOM will draw up strategies to ensure that member countries benefit from the final agreement of the UN Climate Change Conference, recently held in Paris, which included some of the proposals submitted by the bloc.

Representatives will also review recommendations made by a ministerial committee regarding the risk posed to relations between regional and foreign banks as well as the possible loss of access to international financing.

The group has expressed its concern over the decision by various U.S. and European entities to withdraw financial services in the Caribbean, signaling a lack of confidence due to the arbitrary and unsubstantiated categorization of the region as a financial high risk area; a situation which will negatively impact local economies and foreign investment.

Another point on the agenda of the meeting which ended February 17, was the appointment of the new Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States, a role to be assumed by a representative of the bloc for the 2016-2020 period.

CARICOM was founded July 4, 1973 with the signing of the Chaguaramas Treaty and is composed of Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nieves, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Belize, Barbados, Granada, Guyana and Suriname.

(Prensa Latina)