Santo Domingo.- The National Association of Livestock Producers of Meat (Asocarne) has expressed its deep concern over the Dominican government’s decision to grant permits for the importation of meat from Brazil. Brazil has been declared positive for diseases such as “Foot and Mouth Disease” and has had cases of “BSE or Mad Cow,” while the Dominican Republic is considered free from these diseases.

Enrique de Castro, president of Asocarne, highlighted that the importation of meat from a country with such disease risks poses a significant threat to the entire bovine sector, including meat, milk, and cheese production. This move also jeopardizes the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Dominicans who are directly or indirectly dependent on these agricultural activities.

De Castro emphasized that introducing any of these diseases into the Dominican Republic would not only endanger public health but also pose a significant risk to the country’s tourism industry. He mentioned that even a single case of “BSE” on Dominican soil would jeopardize the safety of the entire food system.

The president of Asocarne also pointed out that the Dominican Republic lacks the economic and technical resources to inspect and ensure that imported meat products comply with health and safety standards. He noted that the country has not inspected a single shipment of imported meats in over two decades, deciding to open imports from Brazil even more concerning.

Asocarne estimates that at least 55 meat establishments in Brazil have been authorized to export meat products to the Dominican Republic, with no detailed information provided about the location or types of products approved for import.

De Castro emphasized that the Dominican Republic’s achievements in exporting beef to the United States were the result of years of rigorous processes and investments in structural and procedural adaptations to meet safety standards. The entry of meat from Brazil poses a risk to these efforts and the reputation of Dominican meats.

Asocarne called on the Dominican government to halt the importation process until thorough inspections of Brazilian slaughterhouses, farms, and the entire meat supply chain are conducted. They also requested the establishment of rigorous inspection processes for imported products that could affect the health of the Dominican population.

Furthermore, Asocarne urged the government to demand proof that any outbreaks of diseases affecting cattle in Brazil are reported promptly and that Brazil complies with international trade agreements.

Brazil has faced challenges in various parts of the world, including China, Russia, Thailand, and Arab countries, due to outbreaks of BSE, as noted by Asocarne.

Asocarne’s primary objective is to strengthen animal health in the livestock subsector and promote the development of the bovine sector in the Dominican Republic. They also aim to promote the production and consumption of domestically produced beef. The association brings together producers and companies involved in the meat sector, including those involved in the slaughter, processing, and production of meat products from bovine, pork, and ovine animal species.

USA.- The Valneva group’s chikungunya vaccine has received approval in the United States, marking the first vaccine against this mosquito-borne viral disease in the Americas.

Chikungunya infection typically presents with symptoms such as fever, joint pain, and sometimes a rash. Severe joint pain can persist for an extended period, even years.

Over the past 15 years, there have been at least 5 million recorded cases of chikungunya virus infection, making it an emerging global health threat, according to the FDA.

The highest risk of infection is in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Southeast Asia, and parts of the Americas since late 2013.

The vaccine, administered in a single dose, contains an attenuated version of the chikungunya virus, a commonly used technique in vaccine development. Common side effects include headaches, muscle aches, fatigue, and occasionally nausea, with rare cases of more severe reactions.

Before this vaccine, there were no approved vaccines or antiviral treatments for chikungunya, a disease whose name originates from the African Makonde language, meaning “to bend over in pain.”

Chikungunya is transmitted by mosquitoes, requiring a vector for transmission, and individuals typically develop lifelong immunity after recovering from the disease.

Valneva has also submitted an application for authorization to the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Better communication between the island’s numerous health-care providers is required to improve the quality and administration of patient care.

This was the view shared by Ian Weithers, President of the Barbados Association of Radiographers, as he spoke to media personnel during Saturday’s opening ceremony for the Barbados Association of Radiographers and the Barbados Health Information Management Conference 2023. The conference was held at the O2 Beach Club and Spa, Dover Beach, Christ Church.

Weithers said COVID-19 was an eye-opening experience for the medical community, with access to patient information and other data proving challenging despite the need for it.

“In the past, everyone managed their own information, and sometimes it would be difficult when one is dealing with patient records and information to get information from another area. With the advancement of technologies we are now beginning to share information a whole lot better, which obviously means better management of patient care,” Weithers said.

“There are still a lot of gaps in information sharing. A lot of gaps for instance in care, the continuum of care. We need to get that better if patients are supposed to be better treated, and we get success with all of the other things that we are doing.”

Meanwhile, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr Sonia Browne, also shared similar sentiments, stating that Government and medical organisations need to work together to remove data silos and other inefficiencies within the system to better improve patient care.

“Images of disparities in access, inefficiencies in the provision of care, and absence of supporting quality mechanisms, compartmentalisation of care does not allow for the provision of services from the systems perspective. It breeds inefficiencies in the use of resources and maximisation of funds,” Browne said.

“Additionally, the health-care industry has long been grappling with the challenge of hidden data silos; these data silos make it more difficult for organisations and health-care professionals to exchange information smoothly, which impedes care coordination and ultimately affects patient outcomes.”

Government and medical organisations work together to remove data silos and other inefficiencies within the system to better improve patient care, Bowne said.

She also revealed that the Ministry of Health and Wellness in 2022, with support from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) did an assessment of Barbados’ Information Systems for Health (IS4H), to develop a short and medium term work plan for the national level. Findings from this assessment will be used in short order to better streamline a number of services on the island.

(SB)

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday announced its approval of Ixchiq, the first chikungunya vaccine.

The vaccine, which is made by Valneva, is approved for anyone age 18 and older who has a risk of being exposed to the virus.

The chikungunya virus is transmitted to people through bites from infected mosquitoes. 

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"This virus is in a similar category as dengue or Zika and is carried by the same mosquitoes," noted Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor.

The FDA described chikungunya as an "emerging global health threat," with at least five million cases reported over the past 15 years. 

"Infection with chikungunya virus can lead to severe disease and prolonged health problems, particularly for older adults and individuals with underlying medical conditions," said Peter Marks, M.D., PhD, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, in a press release on Thursday. 

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"Today’s approval addresses an unmet medical need and is an important advancement in the prevention of a potentially debilitating disease with limited treatment options," he also said.

Before the FDA’s approval, the vaccine’s safety was tested in clinical trials that included 3,500 adults.

Participants most commonly reported headache, muscle pain, fatigue, joint pain, nausea, fever and tenderness at the injection site as side effects.

A small share of recipients (1.6%) experienced adverse reactions, with two of the recipients needing to be hospitalized, per the FDA’s release.

In a separate study, the vaccine’s efficacy was measured based on the immune response data of 266 adult participants. 

Almost all of them were shown to have protective antibody levels.

The most common symptoms are fever and joint pain, with some people also experiencing headache, muscle pain, joint swelling or rash, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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Symptoms usually begin within three to seven days after transmission.

Most people who contract the virus get better within a week.

In rare cases, the virus can cause severe and long-lasting joint pain.

Those at highest risk for adverse health effects include older adults, newborns who contract the infection at birth, and people with heart disease, diabetes or high blood pressure, per the CDC.

Deaths from the virus are very rare.

Mosquitoes carrying the chikungunya virus are endemic in Africa, Southeast Asia and parts of the Americas, the FDA stated in its release.

Before 2013, cases of the chikungunya virus were primarily documented in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

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In late 2013, the first local cases were documented in Caribbean countries, which then led to the virus spreading throughout the Americas, the CDC stated.

For those who have been exposed and have symptoms, a blood test can confirm the presence of chikungunya or other similar viruses.

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People who are infected and experience symptoms should rest, stay hydrated with fluids and take over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen or paracetamol, to relieve and reduce fever, according to the CDC.

People who are traveling to countries where the virus is prevalent can reduce their risk by using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, and staying indoors or in screened areas.

Siegel noted that the vaccine — which he deems "safe and effective" — contains a live weakened version of the virus vaccine.

"That means it is not intended for [the] immunocompromised, but it is useful for those at risk of severe cases of chikungunya," he told Fox News Digital.

Added the doctor, "The vaccine is being fast-tracked, which for me means I would give it to those most at risk first, while watching post-marketing studies over next year."

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

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Santo Domingo.- Rodrigo Castañeda, the representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in the Dominican Republic, emphasized the need for improvements in the quality of diets and equitable access to food products, despite a decrease in the prevalence of undernourishment and hunger in the country. He pointed out that while the prevalence fell from 8.3% in the three-year period of 2018-2020 to 6.3% between 2020-2022, challenges remain.

Castañeda highlighted the difficulty in finding healthy foods at low cost and in close proximity. He mentioned that a healthy diet costs 60% more than one that fulfills basic food needs and five times more than diets that only provide food energy.

During his presentation on “Impact of food waste on the environment” at the “Sustainable Profits” seminar organized by the National Network of Business Support for Environmental Protection (Ecored), Castañeda shared global statistics, stating that in 2022, 735 million people suffered from hunger, while 1,029 million people were classified as obese. He emphasized that the problem of hunger is primarily an issue of economic access.

Castañeda pointed out that food waste is a significant contributor to environmental issues, with examples such as 12% waste in fish production and 32% in fruits. This waste accounts for 10% of greenhouse gas emissions, and if it were a country, it would be the third most polluting sector globally.

He also highlighted various factors contributing to poverty and inequality affecting food security, including pandemics, economic slowdowns, climate variability, conflicts, and the high cost of healthy diets. Additionally, he mentioned climate change’s impact on soil degradation, excessive pesticide use, and the need for traceability to reduce food waste.

Regarding the Dominican Republic, Castañeda expressed concern about health indicators, stating that 70% of the population is obese or overweight, leading to a significant burden on public healthcare spending. He called for efforts to promote healthier diets and lifestyles.

Castañeda also addressed the issue of food waste in tourist areas of the country, emphasizing the need for collaboration between the public and private sectors to implement initiatives and reduce waste.

Globally, in 2022, 931 million tons of food ended up in landfills, highlighting the urgency of addressing food waste and improving food access and quality.

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The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided Guyana’s Ministry of Health with 13 solar-powered vaccine refrigerators to be used in health care centres in remote areas of the country. US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole D. Theriot handed over the refrigerators worth US$160,000, and the embassy here said the presentation demonstrated the American ...

Santo Domingo.- Rodrigo Castañeda, the representative of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in the Dominican Republic, disclosed that a staggering 70% of the adult population in the country is overweight or obese. He emphasized the need for a healthy diet to combat obesity.

Castañeda highlighted the concerning statistics, noting that even among children, 31% of students are classified as obese or overweight. He pointed out that Latin America and the Caribbean grapple with double the obesity rates compared to Africa and three times more than Oceania, indicating a widespread issue in the entire region.

During a conference on “Sustainable Profits,” Castañeda explained that poor nutrition contributes to various health problems such as hypertension and cardiovascular issues. He also mentioned that FAO and the National Institute for Student Welfare (INABIE) are collaborating to ensure that the school menu for public school students is both nutritious and healthy, as part of their efforts to address this pressing health concern.