The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has commending the St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Ministry of Health on its timely collaboration with the Agency in the management of a traveller from Nigeria with fever.{{more}}

In a release dated January 30, CARPHA said “Because of the Ministry’s action, Executive Director, Dr C. James Hospedales, said CARPHA was able to receive the relevant sample and return a result within 48 hours.

“Although Nigeria is not one of the countries currently affected by Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), the situation was assessed to determine the likelihood of EVD in the patient.”

The CARPHA Incident Management Team and the Chief Medical Officer of St Vincent and the Grenadines jointly reviewed the details of the case, applied the guidance of the CARPHA EVD risk assessment process and determined that this case did not meet any of the criteria for Ebola Virus Disease.

Other possible diagnoses were considered and a sample was sent to CARPHA for verification of Malaria infection. The sample was received at the CARPHA Laboratory on January 27 and results returned to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on January 28, confirming the diagnosis of Malaria for this patient. The turnaround time for the entire process, from notification to return of result, was under 48 hours.

“CARPHA looks forward to providing ongoing support to its Member States as the Agency continues to strengthen preparedness to prevent the introduction of EVD in the Region,” the release said.