Many skin lightening creams and soaps contain some form of mercury as an active agent. But mercury is dangerous. It can cause kidney damage and may also cause skin rashes, skin discoloration and scarring, as well as a reduction in the skin's resistance to bacterial and fungal infections, as stated in the World Health Organization (WHO) June 2012 Information Sheet.

The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO / WHO) recommends that Member States promote public awareness of skin whitening products that may contain any chemical form or compound of mercury and the risks associated with exposures to different forms of mercury.

The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) would like to stress to its Member States the recommendations to maintain and strengthen routine surveillance activities, and to promote and disseminate influenza case management and prevention information to the public. The Organization encourages Member States to update and implement plans to respond to public health emergencies.

The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) reminds Members States that measures such as restrictions on movement of persons and seizure of goods produced under good manufacturing practices are unnecessary and ineffective to control the spread of cholera. Member States are encouraged to continue surveillance activities and to implement the recommended actions that reduce cholera spreading determinants.

Influenza outbreaks occur annually, which affect public health and can have social and economic impacts. The weekly influenza in the Americas situation reports produced by PAHO/WHO demonstrate that influenza viruses A and B are currently circulating. Among the influenza A subtype viruses circulating are influenza A(H3N2) and A(H1N)pdm09.

To reduce the impact caused by outbreaks of seasonal influenza PAHO/WHO reminds Member States facing intense circulation of influenza viruses to maintain their routine surveillance activities, promote appropriate clinical management and disseminate information to the public on preventative measures. Member States of the Southern Hemisphere are also called upon to begin prevention and control preparations prior to the start of the season with the greatest circulation of influenza viruses.

In preparation for the start of the season with the highest risk of dengue transmission due to rainy seasons and increased temperatures, the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recommends Member States (especially those in the southern hemisphere) to implement their integrated preparedness and response mechanisms in order to prevent transmission and prevent dengue caused deaths.

Given the significant increase of pertussis cases in several areas of the Region, the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) encourages Member States to increase their level of surveillance, to continuously monitor the level of vaccination coverage in one year old infants and children under 5 years old, with particular emphasis on identifying susceptible group.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) / World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that Member States increase their efforts to implement prevention and control actions for infections associated with health care, due to the detection and local spread of mutli-resistant microorganisms with New Delhi Metallo-?-lactamase-type (NDM) antimicrobial resistance mechanisms in health services in countries of the Americas.

In 2011 and the start of 2012, an increase in pertussis cases has been reported in several countries of the Region, with cases predominantly in adolescents and newborns. In light of this situation, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) reiterates the recommendations issued by the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on Vaccine-Preventable Diseases during their XIX Meeting in July 2011.

Recent hurricanes, Sandy and Isaac, passed through several Caribbean countries, including Haiti, increased the risk of acute diarrheal diseases being transmitted by food and water and may require heightening the responsiveness of health systems in the affected areas. As such, the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO / WHO) recommends that Member States take action to update their preparedness and response plans and strengthen their surveillance systems for early detection of outbreaks. Member States are called on to continue their efforts and implement actions to improve water quality and sanitation conditions.

Given the increasingly frequent occurrence of meningococcal meningitis clusters in different countries of the Region and the need for information to characterize the situation and direct public health actions, the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) encourages Member States to strengthen surveillance and laboratory capacity to enable the detection of outbreaks and to implement an appropriate response in a timely manner.

The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recommends Member States (especially those located in the regions of Central America and the Caribbean), that could have a greater risk of dengue outbreaks during the second half of 2012, to begin preparing and establish integrated response mechanisms for the prevention of dengue caused deaths.

The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) reminds Members States that measures such as restrictions on movement of persons and seizure of goods produced under good manufacturing practices are unnecessary and ineffective to control the spread of cholera. Member States are encouraged to continue surveillance activities and to implement the recommended actions that reduce cholera spreading determinants.

Considering the start of the rainy season in Central America and the Caribbean, which increases the risk of transmission for various diseases, including cholera, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) encourages Member States the continuation of surveillance efforts to detect the occurrence of outbreaks and implementing intervention actions to reduce cholera spread determinants.

The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO / WHO) reminds Members States that measures such as restrictions on movement of persons and seizure of goods produced under good manufacturing practices are unnecessary and ineffective to control the spread of cholera. Member States are encouraged to continue surveillance activities and to implement the recommended actions that reduce cholera spreading determinants.