Little Álaia has undergone open heart surgery at CEDIMAT, and her family is requesting platelet donors for her recovery.

Those interested in donating should go to the Blood Bank at the aforementioned health center.

Health Ministry urges citizens to reinforce hygiene as virus activity remains high.

The Ministry of Public Health has called on the population to strengthen hygiene measures due to a high incidence of circulating viruses.

According to the Ministry, it is intensifying epidemiological surveillance in response to ongoing viral activity, as reported in its latest bulletin for epidemiological week 21.

Health officials noted that the number of respiratory illness cases reported so far remains within expected seasonal parameters. However, they confirmed that sentinel surveillance for respiratory viruses continues, alongside strict enforcement of national health protocols at ports, airports, and other entry points. Hospitals are also maintaining active monitoring to identify new cases.

Viruses detected in circulation

During epidemiological week 21 of 2025, the following viruses were identified: influenza A (H1N1) pdm09, SARS-CoV-2, and adenovirus. Since the beginning of the year, additional viruses have been detected, including influenza A (H3N2), influenza B (Victoria lineage), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza viruses (types 1, 2, and 3), and human metapneumovirus.

Handwashing and prevention remain key.

The Ministry is urging the public to continue practicing basic preventive measures, such as frequent handwashing with soap and water, covering their mouths when coughing, using disposable tissues, and — especially for immunocompromised or vulnerable individuals — wearing masks in enclosed or crowded spaces. Self-medication is strongly discouraged.

Recognize symptoms and seek care early.

Anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough, or difficulty breathing is advised to seek care at the nearest health center. Officials highlighted that climate change, rising temperatures, and the presence of Saharan dust have altered traditional seasonal patterns of viruses, contributing to increased transmissibility.

WHO alert and Southern Hemisphere trends

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an epidemiological alert on April 17, 2025, anticipating a rise in influenza and other respiratory infections across the Southern Hemisphere. The alert encourages countries to strengthen surveillance and increase seasonal vaccination, particularly among high-risk groups.

Pest control takes center stage in the latest bulletin

This week’s health bulletin also emphasized pest control as a core strategy in global public health, essential for preventing the spread of communicable diseases and promoting safer, healthier environments.

Two new dengue cases were confirmed in week 21, bringing the 2025 total to 115. The current incidence rate stands at 2.65, representing an 87% decrease compared to the same period in 2024.

The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is accusing health officials of understating the severity of a scabies outbreak at the Geriatric Hospital.

Speaking during a press conference earlier this afternoon, DLP spokesperson on Health and Wellness, Senator Andre Worrell, claimed that at least 24 patients and six nurses have been affected, which is significantly more than the nine cases confirmed by the Ministry of Health earlier this week.

He is calling for the outbreak to be declared a national health emergency, highlighting ongoing staff illness, a lack of basic supplies, and worsening conditions that, according to him, could lead to wider community spread if not urgently addressed.

The post DLP says scabies outbreak at Geriatric Hospital worse than authorities saying appeared first on Barbados Today.

Barbados’ top public health official has moved to reassure the public amid the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant, emphasising that while the strain is spreading more rapidly, it does not appear to cause more severe illness than earlier versions of the virus.

Senior Medical Officer of Health Dr Leslie Rollock said a newly detected COVID-19 variant is more transmissible but does not appear to be more severe.

In a press briefing at the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) regional headquarters on Dayrells Road, Dr Rollock provided an update on the nature of the evolving coronavirus strain and its potential impact locally.

She said: “As you would be aware, the coronavirus that caused COVID-19 is continually changing. It is becoming more and more transmissible, easier to pass from person to person. This new variant that has been discovered is, of course, more transmissible, but in itself it is not more virulent.”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has designated the new strain, NB.1.8.1, as a ‘variant under monitoring’ amid concern about the sharp rise in cases.

Dr Rollock explained that while the virus is spreading more easily, especially in the United States—a major source market for Barbados—the illness it causes is not necessarily more dangerous than previous variants such as Delta. However, she warned that because more people are likely to contract it, those who are medically vulnerable remain at greater risk of severe outcomes such as hospitalisation.

“It’s not because of the virulence of the virus; it’s because of the state of the person who would have got it,” she explained.

The Ministry of Health is closely monitoring developments abroad, especially in countries with high travel volumes into Barbados, particularly during the summer season, she said. Given the uptick in cases in the US, health authorities expect that this new strain could eventually reach Barbados.

Dr Rollock said: “For the average person, it is not an issue, but what we usually advise is that those who are more vulnerable—if you have a vulnerable person in your house and you have a cough, cold, runny nose—when you have interactions with them, you wear a mask. When you’re going out and you don’t know who you’re going to meet, you try to do your normal cough etiquette: cover your coughs and your sneezes, wash your hands and keep your unwashed hands from your eyes, your nose and your mouth.

“This new virus by itself is not an issue because it is not as virulent as Delta was. It’s coming down to the point that it might be for us like the common cold, but you know the common cold can cause severe disease in those who are vulnerable. So that’s where we are at with respect to this new variant.” (SB)

What we know about 

the new COVID-19 variant

• The WHO has classified NB.1.8.1 as a “variant under monitoring” as of May 23. This indicates that the variant is being closely observed due to concerns about increased transmissibility and potential impact on health systems.

• It is showing signs of increased transmissibility.

• Over 91 000 COVID-19 cases were reported globally between April 14 and May 11.

• The variant has already been detected in 22 countries across Europe, Asia, and North America.

• Some regions are seeing rising hospital admissions.

The post COVID-19 easier to catch with new strain; senior medic assesses severity appeared first on Barbados Today.

Santo Domingo.- Starting this Wednesday, the Saharan dust mass affecting the Dominican Republic will begin to subside, resulting in clearer skies and reduced atmospheric haze, according to the Dominican Meteorological Institute (Indomet).

Despite the gradual decline in dust concentration, the country will continue to experience intense heat due to limited cloud cover and warm southeasterly winds. These conditions, combined with lingering dust particles, will contribute to gray or dull skies. However, as the day progresses, a slight increase in moisture from southeast winds may lead to light, isolated showers—especially in areas such as Monte Plata, Monseñor Nouel, San Juan, and Elías Piña.

Indomet also noted that a moderate level of Saharan dust remains in the atmosphere, which, along with a high-pressure system, will limit the formation of significant cloud cover and maintain mostly sunny conditions.

Additionally, meteorologists are monitoring a non-tropical low-pressure system expected to move toward the southeastern United States over the next week. It currently has a low, 10% chance of developing into a cyclone and poses no threat to the Dominican Republic due to its distance and projected path.

A scabies outbreak at the Geriatric Hospital has prompted public health authorities to review infection prevention protocols at the facility, particularly as it prepares to transition to a new location at Waterford.

Confirmation of the scabies diagnosis among elderly patients and the actions taken by health officials came on Tuesday during a press briefing at the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) headquarters on Dayrells Road, where Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George, flanked by health officials, told journalists that although uncomfortable, scabies poses no major public health threat.

A team from the Ministry of Health had visited the Beckles Road, St Michael hospital on Monday and found that nine patients examined by a dermatologist were diagnosed with partially treated scabies, Dr George confirmed.

Scabies, a skin infection caused by mites burrowing into the skin, leads to intense itching and can spread through close contact. While not considered a disease of serious public health significance, Dr George acknowledged that it can be intensely uncomfortable for affected individuals.

“I must be clear, scabies is not a disease of public health significance,” he said. “However, it is very uncomfortable, it is very itchy, and it can spread. This is not the first time we have had scabies in the Geriatric Hospital, and as I have said from time to time, the patient population at the Geriatric Hospital is indeed susceptible—they are a vulnerable population.”

This outbreak follows a previous announcement last week in which health officials acknowledged reports of an unusual skin condition affecting patients at the facility. Since then, the ministry has been quietly investigating the situation. Dr George noted that the issue gained attention after a staff member was diagnosed with scabies.

“There was a staff member who went to a private sector doctor, and he diagnosed her with scabies. That led to red flags on our end,” he said. “The public needs to know that we will get over this. This is not a cause for major concern or uncertainty. What we need to do is to make sure that we can contain it. We understand what the situation is; treatment has been instituted. It’s a single-dose treatment which may be repeated at another time. The single-dose treatment—we have two options, and we are exploring those options.”

Alvin Hart, the Geriatric Hospital’s infection prevention and control officer, stressed that protocols at the facility were being reviewed in the wake of the outbreak, particularly as the hospital prepares for the transfer to the new facility at Waterford.

“We are looking at all of our protocols, the training of our staff, we are exposing more staff to a lot of these things because, as healthcare workers, we can’t run from these things,” he said. “These things will happen. We had COVID-19 and we recovered from it, and this is in no way comparable to what COVID-19 was. We will continue to ensure that supplies are there; only yesterday I was told that one of our suppliers is extending a hand in donating some items to the hospital as well.”

Hart also acknowledged the challenges in identifying the initial source of the outbreak, given that scabies can remain asymptomatic for up to six weeks, allowing silent transmission. He added that supplies are being maintained and even bolstered, with one supplier offering to donate essential items to assist in the hospital’s response.

Consultant at the Geriatric Hospital, Dr Shayna Parris, stressed that the treatment currently being given to patients and staff affected is working: “Those who have already received treatment have reported that they have already had a significant reduction in the itching that is associated with scabies, and that is reassuring to us. Additional treatments have been prescribed at the recommendation of the dermatologist to alleviate this itching even further.”

Dr Parris added: “It can persist for a period of up to six weeks, so we do expect that some patients may have a protracted course; however, we will do everything we can to support them through this process.” (SB)

The post Scabies outbreak at Geriatric Hospital prompts protocol review appeared first on Barbados Today.

Santo Domingo.- The General Directorate of Medicines, Food, and Health Products (DIGEMAPS) has clarified that the public alert regarding the falsification of the emergency contraceptive Evital (Levonorgestrel) was originally issued in October 2024, not recently as some media reports suggest. This clarification comes in response to a recent statement published by Proconsumidor on social media, which has been widely shared and may have led the public to believe the alert is new.

DIGEMAPS emphasized that the counterfeit product—Evital from Batch 161026, produced by Ethical Pharmaceutical, SRL, and set to expire in October 2026—was detected during routine health surveillance last year. Immediate regulatory actions were taken at that time to remove the falsified medication from the market, ensuring public safety.

The regulatory body reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the quality of medicines, food, and health products. It also urged the public to only purchase medications from authorized establishments and called on healthcare professionals to report any suspected adverse drug reactions. Reports can be made via phone at 809-541-3121 ext. 6681/6682, by email at farmacovigilancia@ministeriodesalud.gob.do.

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