Epidemic management: a Caribbean university's response to the 2009 H1N1 outbreak.

BACKGROUND: In June 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global influenza pandemic (1). During the throes of the epidemic, the Caribbean region recorded 22 deaths and 350 hospitalizations. Jamaica reported most of the deaths in the region--7, followed by Trinidad and Tobago--5 and Barbados--3; the remaining 7 deaths occurred in other Caribbean countries (2). In June, Jamaica reported its first case (3) and some three months later in September 2009, The University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus experienced an outbreak of the 2009 H1N1 virus infection. As one of the three main Campuses of the leading tertiary institution in the English-speaking Caribbean (others being in Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados in addition to an 'Open Campus' which serves the non-Campus territories), the UWI Mona Campus serves some 15 000 students. These students originate mainly from the Caribbean; North American and African students also comprise the student population. The University Health Centre provides primary care services to a community of students, staff (3000) and their dependents, retirees, visiting staff and students.

Epidemic management: a Caribbean university's response to the 2009 H1N1 outbreak / Manejo de las epidemias: una respuesta de la universidad del Caribe al brote de H1N1 de 2009

BACKGROUND: In June 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global influenza pandemic (1). During the throes of the epidemic, the Caribbean region recorded 22 deaths and 350 hospitalizations. Jamaica reported most of the deaths in the region - 7, followed by Trinidad and Tobago -5 and Barbados - 3; the remaining 7 deaths occurred in other Caribbean countries (2). In June, Jamaica reported its first case (3) and some three months later, in September 2009, The University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus experienced an outbreak of the 2009 H1N1 virus infection. As one of the three main Campuses of the leading tertiary institution in the English-speaking Caribbean (others being in Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados in addition to an 'Open Campus'which serves the non-Campus territories), the UWI Mona Campus serves some 15 000 students. These students originate mainly from the Caribbean; North American and African students also comprise the student population. The University Health Centre provides primary care services to a community of students, staff (3000) and their dependents, retirees, visiting staff and students.

Antecedentes: En junio de 2009, la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) declaró una pandemia mundial de gripe (1). Durante la agonía de la epidemia, la región del Caribe registró 22 muertes y 350 hospitalizaciones. Jamaica reportó la mayor parte de las muertes en la región, 7, seguida de 5 en Trinidad y Tobago y 3 en Barbados; las restantes 7 muertes ocurrieron en otros países del Caribe (2). En junio, Jamaica reportó su primer caso (3) y unos tres meses más tarde, en septiembre de 2009, la Universidad de West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus experimentó un brote del virus H1N1 de 2009. Como uno de los tres campus principales de la principal institución terciaria en el Caribe de habla inglesa (los otros dos en Trinidad y Tobago por un lado, y Barbados por otro, además de un 'Campus abierto', que sirve a los territorios sin campus), el campus de Mona, en UWI, presta servicio a unos 15000 estudiantes. Estos proceden principalmente de la región del Caribe; Estudiantes norteamericanos y africanos comprenden también la población estudiantil. El Centro de Salud de la Universidad brinda servicios de atención primaria a la comunidad de estudiantes residentes, al personal (3000) y sus dependientes, jubilados, así como al personal y los estudiantes de visita.

Lead in a residential environment in Jamaica.

The background levels of lead in Jamaica in soils and sediments, estimated at 37 mg kg(-1), are relatively high compared with world averages. Several areas have values in excess of this due to mineralisation and pollution. One such is the residential Hope Flats/Kintyre area in which levels of lead up to 2.5% are found in the soils and up to 8 µg kg(-1) in the water of the nearby Hope River. The blood lead levels of a sample of children were in the range 5.7-57 µg dl(-1). The high lead levels suggest a potential health risk, particularly for the children. This can be minimised by programmes which include community education, case management and abatement to reduce the lead exposure.

Heavy metal pollution in Jamaica 1: Survey of cadmium, lead and zinc concentrations in the Kintyre and Hope Flat districts.

Despite its being highly mineralised, the Hope Mine area has become a residential district. Composite soil samples taken from 91 allotments show values for cadmium: < 2-220 mg kg(-1), lead: 6-38,000 mg kg(-1), and zinc: 66-40,000 mg kg(-1). Water samples from adits contain 52-86 µg kg(-1) of lead and < 1-2 hg kg(-1) of cadmium. The soil contents of cadmium and lead in at least two areas suggest that remedial actions should be considered. Blood lead levels for 33 children aged between ten months and seven years are in the range 5.7-57 µg dl(-1); haemoglobin levels vary between 9.7 and 12.7 mg dl(-1). There is no obvious relationship between Pb and haemoglobin levels. Further geochemical work to define fully the spatial extent of the polluted region and epidemiological studies including intelligence testing to define further the effects of lead on children in this environment would be valuable.