PAHO director addresses Latin American, Caribbean Ebola preparedness
October 21, 2014 10:00 AMBy Daniel Daw
Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Dr. Carissa Etienne is visiting Cuba this week to address preparedness in the face of potential cases of the Ebola virus at a meeting of the Bolivian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP).
The meeting will also discuss ways that member countries of ALBA-TCP can aid countries affected by the Ebola outbreak that has been raging in West Africa since December. According to the World Health Organization(WHO), this is the most lethal outbreak since the virus’ discovery in 1976.
Also up for discussion is the fact that there have been three Ebola cases in the U.S. One Ebola patient was infected in Liberia and has since died, while two nurses who treated the individual are currently infected.
“I am here to share with the presidents and governments of ALBA PAHO’s technical cooperation and to ensure that countries are prepared for the possibility of an imported case of Ebola,” Etienne said as she arrived on Sunday.
WHO and PAHO have been working to inform countries and support their preparation to combat potential Ebola cases within Central and South America.
