CDC supports multi-national study for disease surveillance in Central America, Caribbean

The ministries of health in Belize, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic announced the development of a surveillance network to identify and track acute febrile illnesses (AFIs), now with the assistance of experts from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and academic sources.

AFIs are common health care troubles stemming from several sources: viruses, bacteria, parasites, inhaled fungi contaminated food or water, or exposure to infected animals, such as mosquitoes. Rapid onset of symptoms is common, including fever, headache, diarrhea, chills, muscle and joint pain or coughs. While common, outbreaks can quickly overwhelm public health systems.

“The current widespread and severe outbreak of dengue that’s spreading across Guatemala and other Central American countries underscores the urgent need for the studies and surveillance network,” Dr. Emily Zielinski-Gutierrez, director of the CDC-Central America Regional Office, said. “The development of a comprehensive surveillance system that improves the timeliness and effectiveness of detecting and responding to infectious disease threats is critical to reducing the impact and spread of disease within and across borders and ultimately improving health outcomes among vulnerable populations in the Central America and Caribbean region and globally.”

Along with the CDC, the study is being supported by experts from Baylor College of Medicine, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. The study will track details such as patients’ age, gender, symptoms, and diagnostic results, with their consent. Experts hope that understanding the causes behind AFIs will help healthcare professionals better diagnose and treat them.

The scientists also hope that figuring out more about AFIs will lend greater insight into emerging infectious diseases, like the CDC’s example of dengue. According to the Pan American Health Organization data external icon, Guatemala has reported more than 35,000 cases of dengue in 2019 and the Dominican Republic more than 12,000 cases, including 78 deaths between them.