In its bulletin corresponding to Epidemiological Week Number 13, the Directorate of Epidemiology (DIEPI) shows that most diseases under special surveillance maintain a downward trend.

Among these health events are leptospirosis, cholera, COVID-19, human rabies, and other vaccine-preventable diseases, such as meningococcal disease, diphtheria, and polio.

Likewise, this week, the number of dengue cases continued to be low, with six cases reported. Children between one and four years of age were the most affected. Up to the 13th epidemiological week, there were 58 cases of the disease.

Nine confirmed cases of malaria remain in the already identified hotspots (San Juan, Azua, and Santo Domingo). This year, there have been 135 cases, and the accumulated incidence stands at 5.02 per 100,000 inhabitants.

No cases of leptospirosis have been recorded for this week. The accumulated number of confirmed cases is 20 this year, and the incidence of suspected cases is 0.75 per 100,000 inhabitants.

The DIEPI bulletin highlights the circulation of several respiratory viruses, such as influenza A (H1N1) pdm09, Influenza A (h3n2), Adenovirus, and SARS COV-2, for which the Ministry of Public Health has reinforced monitoring and case-control strategies through sentinel surveillance and virological analysis.

It urges people to take preventive measures, such as frequent hand washing, mask use in people with flu-like symptoms, and going to the nearest health center in case of fever or general malaise.

Maternal and infant deaths

In epidemiological week 13, two maternal deaths were reported, corresponding to women of Haitian nationality. The accumulated number of cases is 42 deaths up to this epidemiological week; last year, there were 49 accumulated deaths on the same date.

Twenty-eight infant deaths were reported this week, compared to 36 deaths reported the previous year, reflecting a reduction in the indicator. The accumulated total is 448 deaths this year, and in 2024, 557 deaths were reported at the same date.

Santo Domingo.- In an increasingly interconnected world, business leaders are navigating complex pressures at the intersection of corporate performance and human well-being. This challenge arises as artificial intelligence (AI) significantly alters the nature of work, automating tasks, potentially reducing entry-level positions, and accelerating the pace of change. These are some of the key findings from Deloitte’s newly released “Global Human Capital Trends 2025” report.

The report reveals that this evolving landscape creates competing demands for employees, managers, and organizations. These include the urgent need to bridge a widening experience gap as traditional entry-level jobs become less prevalent, the importance of supporting individual development amidst the transformation of middle management roles, and the necessity of ensuring that both workers and organizations can fully harness the potential of AI.

Deloitte’s research emphasizes how organizations can turn these tensions into opportunities by fundamentally rethinking talent development beyond conventional approaches, reimagining the responsibilities of managers, and strategically leveraging AI to generate value for both the company and its workforce. This is particularly critical given that only a tiny fraction, around six percent, of workers believe their organization is making significant strides in creating this shared value.

A central challenge identified in the report is the growing divide between the demand for experienced workers and the reality that many qualified candidates lack the necessary practical experience. Furthermore, the decline in traditional entry-level roles is hindering the ability of new entrants to gain foundational experience.

To overcome this hurdle, Deloitte suggests that organizations should shift their focus from rigid experience requirements to hiring based on demonstrable skills and future potential. Notably, the report highlights that a strong majority of executives (73%) and workers (72%) agree that organizations need to do more to connect their workforce with opportunities for experiential learning. Additionally, almost three-quarters (74%) of surveyed workers, managers, and executives consider it vital to prioritize the development of human capabilities.

Addressing the skills gap and the evolving role of management

The traditional role of middle managers is also poised for a significant transformation as organizations and employees adapt to rapid changes and the increasing integration of AI. While organizations benefit from having dedicated individuals focused on employee growth, many managers currently spend a disproportionate amount of their time on administrative tasks rather than on talent development. The report suggests that AI can assist managers in balancing their daily responsibilities, allowing them to dedicate more time to their people and become more agile leaders.

Organizations that successfully redefine the manager’s role will be better equipped to navigate an increasingly complex and AI-driven future. The data shows that managers currently spend nearly 40% of their time on problem-solving and administrative duties, with only 13% dedicated to the development of their team members. Moreover, over a third (36%) of managers report feeling inadequately prepared to lead people, and 40% have experienced a decline in their mental well-being after becoming managers.

As AI becomes more integrated into the daily workflows of employees, it is subtly and unexpectedly changing their overall work experience. The collaboration between humans and AI is increasingly becoming a vital component of the modern “employee value proposition” (EVP) – the reasons why individuals choose to work for and remain with a particular company. An updated EVP can enable organizations to better support their employees and adapt to these evolving dynamics.

Furthermore, leaders who clearly communicate the role of AI in transforming work, fostering career growth, and promoting work-life balance can foster greater trust within the workforce. The report indicates that over half (52%) of leaders believe that the potential value of deeper human-machine collaboration is highly significant. Furthermore, more than 70% of managers and workers are more likely to join and stay with an organization if their employee value proposition helps them thrive in an AI-powered world.

Karen Pastakia, Global Human Capital Leader at Deloitte Canada, emphasized this point, stating, “Focusing too heavily on short-term results can come at the expense of long-term value creation. Yes, organizations can leverage advancements in AI to drive value and improve outcomes. However, those that effectively utilize this technology to identify and address emerging challenges, create a better quality of life for workers, and reimagine rigid management structures have the potential to unlock greater value for all their stakeholders.”

The “Global Human Capital Trends 2025” report is based on a survey of nearly 10,000 business and HR leaders across various industries and sectors in 93 countries. In addition to the extensive global survey, Deloitte supplemented its research this year with targeted surveys of workers, managers, and executives to uncover potential gaps between leadership and management perceptions and the realities faced by workers. These survey data were further enriched by over 25 interviews with executives from leading organizations.

For more detailed information, the full report can be accessed on the Global Human Capital Trends 2025 webpage.

Santo Domingo.- The General Directorate of Livestock (Digega) reported that since the beginning of the year, outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF) have impacted around 72 backyard pig farmers across the provinces of Dajabón, La Vega, Duarte, and Espaillat. Interventions have been carried out in several affected communities, including Guanábano (La Vega), Guanuma (Monte Plata), and El Pino (Dajabón).

Digega’s general manager, Abel Madera, noted that while current outbreaks are less severe than those in 2021, the last 20 days have marked a peak in reported cases. Despite this, the situation remains under control. Authorities also revealed that testing rates remain below 1% of the pig population.

To support affected farmers, the government is preparing a Compensation Plan—soon to be announced by President Luis Abinader—that will include financial aid and alternative agricultural options to secure livelihoods. Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture Limber Cruz emphasized that certain provinces remain more vulnerable to ASF due to their proximity to the Haitian border. In response, surveillance has been increased within a 20-kilometer range to help contain the spread.

Love Talks initiative addressed critical social issues, including sexual health and intimate partner violence, offering both informative and inspiring insights, counselling and testing

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As the global health community sounds the alarm over the rate at which antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is rising and global health systems strain under the weight of complex diseases, Barbadian ethnobotanist Dr Sonia Peter is calling for a return to the island’s natural roots as a solution. 

She is urging the government and private sector to invest seriously in the development of a local medicinal plant industry rooted in the island’s rich biodiversity and traditional healing knowledge.

“We need to go back into our history,” Dr Peter, director of the Biocultural Education and Research Programme, told Barbados TODAY over the weekend following a kitchening gardening workshop. “There is value in our plants, and there is value in our knowledge. What we lack is the investment and infrastructure to harness it properly.”

Citing a recent World Health Organisation (WHO) report on the integration of traditional medicine into public health systems, Dr Peter argued that Barbados must act now to both preserve and commercialise its botanical wealth before it disappears—along with critical knowledge passed down through generations.

“The WHO estimates that nearly 80 per cent of the global population still relies on traditional healing methods. That tells us this isn’t folklore—it’s fundamental, and we need to standardise it [local remedies] so people know how to use it safely and effectively,” she said.

Dr Peter’s warning comes amid rising global concern over antimicrobial resistance, a phenomenon where bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens evolve to outsmart conventional medications. The consequences are dire, she said, as common infections could become untreatable, surgeries riskier, and public health gains of the past century could be reversed.

“We’ve been treating microorganisms in a very temporary way. We treat them, then forget. We misuse medications. That’s how resistant strains emerge—organisms evolve, get stronger, and our drugs become useless,” she warned.

Her solution? A homegrown response rooted in the Caribbean’s natural pharmacopeia.

Dr Peter explained that the Caribbean is a biodiversity hotspot, home to hundreds of unique plant species that produce molecules not found anywhere else in the world. This, she argues, places Barbados in a prime position to develop locally derived natural therapies that could supplement national healthcare efforts—and reduce dependency on imported drugs.

“These plants are making molecules peculiar to our region. That’s exactly where we should be looking for new treatments,” she said. “We must stop calling everything ‘bush’ and start seeing these resources for what they are—life-saving and economically valuable.

“We do not have the luxury of just doing science because we like it. As a small nation, we must extract value from our scientific investment, and that starts with protecting our intellectual property,” she stressed.

Over the years, Prime Minister Mia Mottley has lamented that there were too many people dying as a result of antimicrobial resistance while addressing audiences locally, regionally and internationally. 

Mottley, who is co-chair of the One Health Quadripartite Global Leaders Group, said she had a moral duty to speak up about the dangers of overreliance on antibiotics, referring to it as a “slow motion silent pandemic”.

Beyond health, Dr Peter sees untapped economic potential in the development of a natural medicine sector in Barbados, pointing to Cuba’s successful model, which fuses traditional medicine with scientific rigour.

“Cuba is an excellent example. They’ve built a robust healthcare system partly on their own medicinal knowledge because they were forced to innovate. We don’t need to wait until we’re backed into a corner,” she said.

She envisions a dual-sector approach—combining research and development with eco-wellness tourism, where visitors can engage in healing retreats, botanical experiences, and herbal product lines unique to the island.

“This could be a niche market in tourism, as well as a driver of economic diversification. The future is in value-added knowledge, and we’re sitting on a green goldmine,” she said.

However, she also acknowledged the cultural fragmentation that has led to the erosion of traditional practices in Barbadian households. 

“The grandmothers who once held this knowledge are now working. Our social structures have changed. But those gaps can be filled through education and outreach,” she explained.

Her programme seeks to reintroduce this lost knowledge into schools and communities, bridging generational divides and reigniting respect for local plants. “We must reconnect with our landscape, our heritage, and our health . . . We are cutting down plants without knowing their value. What if that plant was the cure for cancer?” she asked. “We need more rigorous policies around our botanical resources—and the courage to invest in ourselves.” 

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb

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Youth advocates on Monday marked World Health Day by calling for a ban on the marketing of unhealthy foods to children, urging policymakers to build on recent health initiatives aimed at tackling the nation’s childhood obesity crisis.  

In a letter to Suleiman Bulbulia, chair of the National NCD Commission, the youth representatives from the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Barbados Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition praised government policies designed to encourage Barbadians to adopt healthier eating habits and resist the marketing of unhealthy foods in schools.  

“We wanted to say ‘thank you’ to our policymakers for the strides already made—like the 20 per cent tax on sugary drinks, the school nutrition policy implemented in February 2023, and the recent removal of VAT and import duties on certain fruits and vegetables,” said Michron Robinson, youth health advocacy officer. 

“But we also wanted to raise the alarm on the need to ban direct marketing of unhealthy foods to children. Our schools should be safe, health-promoting spaces—not playgrounds for junk food advertising.”  

Robinson noted that the school nutrition policy marks a significant shift in national health priorities, but implementation remains incomplete. One in three Barbadian children is overweight or obese, and the ripple effects are already being felt in families, workplaces, and the national economy.  

“We have a crisis on our hands. Childhood obesity is not just a health issue—it’s a societal issue,” Robinson said. “Healthy beginnings are essential for hopeful futures, and that starts with what we allow into our schools, from food options to advertising.”  

Bulbulia praised the youth advocates for their leadership and vowed to ensure their concerns reach key government ministries.  

“Our youth are speaking clearly, and we’re listening,” said Bulbulia. “If we want a hopeful future for Barbados, we need to take care of our health now—not when we’re 40 or 50, but from early childhood. The school nutrition policy is a critical part of this.”  

He stressed the contradiction in banning alcohol and tobacco advertising to minors while allowing the promotion of high-sugar, high-fat foods that lead to serious health problems.  

The NCD Commission has pledged to expand public education and policy support for healthy eating, with Bulbulia noting that the broader cultural shift must also involve families, communities, and the private sector.  

“This World Health Day, we encourage every Barbadian to reflect not just on their personal habits but on the systems that influence those habits,” he said. “We have made progress, but we must now move with greater urgency to protect the next generation.” 

(SZB)

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High cholesterol has long gotten a bad rap for causing poor heart health — but a new study suggests that the low-carb ketogenic diet may not be linked to cardiovascular disease.

The study, led by The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in collaboration with researchers across multiple institutes, assessed 100 participants following a long-term keto diet who developed elevated levels of LDL cholesterol (known as the "bad" type).

Other than the elevated cholesterol, all participants were "metabolically healthy" and had followed the key diet for an average of five years, according to an April 7 press release.

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They all qualified as LMHR (lean mass hyper-responder), which indicates people who adopt a carbohydrate-restricted diet and experience a significant rise in cholesterol.

Using advanced cardiac imaging, the researchers found that traditional cholesterol markers (ApoB and LDL-C) were not associated with changes in plaque levels in the heart’s arteries or with baseline heart disease over a one-year period.

Instead, existing plaque levels seemed to be a better predictor of future plaque accumulation.

"This population of people — metabolically healthy with elevated LDL due to being in ketosis — are not automatically at increased cardiac risk simply because their LDL is elevated," Bret Scher, MD, medical director of Baszucki Group, which provided funding for the study, told Fox News Digital.

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"Therefore, we should likely shift away from LDL and ApoB and toward vascular imaging with CAC or CTA for better risk prediction and informing how or if to treat someone's cardiac risk factors," added the California-based doctor.

The study findings were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Advances.

Previous studies have also shown that people qualifying as LMHR have similar levels of coronary plaque to otherwise comparable groups that have normal LDL levels, "underscoring that ketogenic diet-induced LDL increases may not indicate a higher risk of coronary plaque," the researcher said.

Dr. Nick Norwitz, a study leader and independent researcher at the University of Oxford, noted that this is the first study to isolate very high LDL and ApoB as risk factors for heart disease. 

"All other human studies have included populations with metabolic dysfunction or individuals with congenital genetic causes of high LDL," he told Fox News Digital.

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The results seem to contradict what most clinicians would have predicted and what doctors are taught in medical training, according to Norwitz. 

"While these data do not prove the conventional understanding is ‘wrong,’ per se, they do suggest the conventional model has a large blind spot."

According to Norwitz, cardiac imaging, including a CAC score, has "far more value" than cholesterol levels in predicting plaque progression.

"Thus, CAC scores can be used to risk-stratify patients and help individualize care," he told Fox News Digital.

Scher noted that "ketogenic therapy" can be effective in treating certain metabolic-related conditions, but some people are afraid of continuing a keto diet because of their cholesterol. 

"This study provides support that they do not necessarily need to stop the diet or treat their cholesterol — rather, they can work with their healthcare team for a more individualized and appropriate cardiac workup," he advised.

Dr. Ken Berry, a family physician and diabetes specialist in Tennessee, was not involved in the research but shared his thoughts on what he described as a "groundbreaking" study.

"The study found no association between LDL-C, ApoB and progression of coronary plaque over one year using high-resolution CT angiography," he said to Fox News Digital.

"Instead, the strongest predictor of plaque progression was pre-existing plaque, not cholesterol levels — leading researchers to conclude that ‘plaque begets plaque, ApoB does not.’"

This is the first prospective trial of its kind in a unique population often labeled ‘high-risk’ by traditional guidelines, Berry said, raising important questions about how cardiovascular risk is assessed in the context of low-carb, high-fat diets.

"The obvious implication is that if very high ApoB levels is not a good predictor of heart attack risk in this specific group of people, then is it a good predictor in any group of people?" he said.

"Or is it, as I suspect, just the latest popular lab test being used to scare people away from eating a proper human diet rich in saturated fat?"

Dr. Bradley Serwer, a cardiologist and chief medical officer at VitalSolution, a Cincinnati-based company that offers cardiovascular and anesthesiology services to hospitals nationwide, reviewed the study and pointed out some potential limitations.

"The study’s limited scope, involving a low-risk population over a short duration, renders it challenging to generalize findings to a broader, more vulnerable population," Serwer told Fox News Digital.

HARVARD MEDICAL STUDENT ATE 720 EGGS IN A MONTH, THEN SHARED THE 'FASCINATING' RESULTS

"While the study’s objective was to propose a hypothesis regarding dietary cholesterol’s role, it does not provide definitive evidence for or against its significance."

The cardiologist does, however, agree with the authors’ conclusions that "improved risk stratification tools" are essential for identifying individuals at higher risk of coronary artery disease.

"As physicians, our primary responsibility lies in evaluating each patient on an individual basis and collaborating with them through shared decision-making to develop the most appropriate long-term care plan," he added.

Michelle Routhenstein, a New York City registered dietitian who specializes in heart disease, noted that plaque formation is a multistep process that can take years to progress.

"The environment of the artery needs to be conducive to plaque formation," Routhenstein, who was not part of the study, told Fox News Digital. 

"For example, individuals with high blood pressure, a subgroup that was excluded from the study, are more prone to endothelial damage that can cause apoB to deposit more readily in the artery wall."

"If someone already has plaque in the arteries and sustains an elevated level of LDL and apoB, then it can develop into more plaque, as seen in this study."

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"However, if someone is metabolically healthy, has no plaque at baseline, and has elevated apoB and LDL levels alone, then the environment may not necessarily cause plaque to form over a one-year period."

Routhenstein pointed to prior research showing that high LDL and apoB over years of someone’s life, typically coupled with inflammation, insulin resistance and/or oxidative stress, can increase the risk of plaque development.

"It is important to note that many people who are implementing a ketogenic diet and are ignoring high LDL and apoB levels typically do not know they have soft plaque brewing," she added.

"Therefore, advising them to ignore LDL and apoB levels can be harmful — especially in a world where heart disease is so prevalent and remains the leading cause of death globally."

Scher said he hopes that more researchers will become inspired to further this study and apply it to different populations. 

"But for now, I hope doctors will embrace this research and treat this specific population of people differently from the rest of their patients, understanding the unique physiologic state of ketosis and the metabolic benefits it provides," he said.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health

In addition to more studies assessing risk in this population, Norwitz said the team hopes to further investigate the mechanisms of the lean mass hyper-responder (LMHR) phenotype.

"This is a remarkable group of humans demonstrating remarkable physiology," he added.

“Of particular concern is genital discharge syndrome associated with infections like gonorrhea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis”

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In epidemiological week 12 of 2025, 245 suspected malaria cases were reported, totaling 5,521. However, the number of confirmed cases is 87, according to the General Directorate of Epidemiology, an agency of the Ministry of Health.

33.3% of confirmed cases affected the age range of 20 to 29 years.

The cumulative incidence of cases is 3.51 per 100,000 inhabitants, with the province of San Juan having the highest incidence.

Of the reported cases, 22.46% correspond to people of nationality, which has intensified the active search for cases, especially in migrant communities and agricultural settlements, considered high risk for the transmission of the disease transmitted by the bite of the Anopheles mosquito.

Among the actions implemented, epidemiological surveillance has been reinforced, primarily through actively detecting febrile cases with a specific focus on high-mobility areas.

Dengue

Regarding dengue, in the Dominican Republic, in epidemiological week 12, 29 suspected cases of dengue were reported without confirmed cases. The cumulative number to that week is 473 suspected cases and 37 confirmed cases. 33.3% of confirmed cases affected people between the ages of 10 and 19, with 57% of cases affecting males. The disease is transmitted through the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Leptospirosis

In epidemiological week 12, three suspected cases of leptospirosis were reported, with no new confirmed cases.

The cumulative number reached 118 suspected cases and 19 confirmed cases. 95% of the confirmed cases affected males between the ages of 20 and 29, with 42.1%. No deaths are recorded in this indicator.

The cumulative incidence of suspected cases is 4.76 per 100,000 inhabitants; San José de Ocoa is the province with the highest incidence, with 52.11 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

52.6%(10) of the confirmed cases are of Haitian nationality, and 47% (9) are Dominican. The Ministry of Health continues to strengthen strategies for controlling the disease, such as rodent control and sanitation measures.

Hepatitis B

The report indicates that 29% affected the age group of 60 or older, followed by 22.1% in 40 to 49 years, affecting both sexes with 50% of cases.