The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO / WHO) urges all Member States to strengthen their international travel advisories so that they are protected against measles and rubella prior to departure. This recommendation applies to both incoming travelers and for those traveling outbound of this Region.

The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recommends that Member States maintain the capacity to detect any unusual health event, including those that might be associated with a new subtype of influenza virus. Member States are encouraged to update and implement the relevant components of multi-hazard plans for preparedness and response to public health events.

The Organization does neither advise health screening at points of entry in relation to this event, nor that any travel or trade restrictions be applied.

The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recommends that Member States strengthen surveillance activities to detect any unusual health event, including those that might be associated with novel coronavirus.

Member States are also urged to implement and follow infection control procedures to reduce or minimize the occurrence of infections in health care settings including those associated with novel coronavirus. Clinicians should be alert of the possibility of occurrence of novel coronavirus infection; for this reason information on clinical management should be accessible to them. The

PAHO/WHO does not advise health screening at points of entry in relation to this event, nor that any travel or trade restrictions be applied.

Current status of cholera outbreaks in the Region.

The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recommends that Member States should be prepared and maintain the capacity to detect any unusual health event, including those that might be associated with a new subtype of influenza virus. Member States are encouraged to update and implement the relevant components of multi-hazard plans for preparedness and response to public health events.

The Organization does neither advise health screening at points of entry in relation to this event, nor that any travel or trade restrictions be applied.

The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recommends that Member States strengthen surveillance activities to detect any unusual health event, including those that might be associated with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Member States are reminded of the importance of strict compliance with infection control procedures to minimize the occurrence of infections in health care settings, including those related to MERS-CoV.

Clinicians should also be on alert for the possible occurrence of infections caused by MERS-CoV, and be aware of the guidelines to investigate and manage suspected cases. In particular, clinical staff should have access to up to date information on the procedures for clinical management of cases with infections caused by MERS-CoV.

PAHO/WHO does not advise health screening at points of entry in relation to this event, nor that any international travel or trade restrictions be applied.

In light of increases in Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) cases in some countries of the Region in 2012 and part of 2013, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) / World Health Organization (WHO) recommends Member States continue efforts of detection, investigation, reporting, and case management for the prevention and control of infections caused by hantavirus.

The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recommends that Member States, especially those that are entering the rainy season with a higher rate of dengue transmission such as Mexico, those in Central America and the Caribbean, continue preparation and response efforts, based on lessons learned and using the Integrated Dengue Management Strategies (IDS-Dengue) approach for prevention and control, with an emphasis on reducing deaths.

The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recommends that Member States continue efforts to prepare and maintain the capacity to detect any unusual health event, including those that might be associated with a new subtype of influenza virus.

PAHO/WHO encourages Member States to consider developing diagnostic capabilities for detecting infection by avian influenza A(H7N9). The Organization does not advise health screening at points of entry in relation to this event, nor that any travel or trade restrictions be applied.

Influenza activity in the United States of America and Canada has continued in intensity during the second and third epidemiological weeks (EW) of 2013. Outpatient visits for influenza like illness (ILI) has in both countries been above the expected average, likely due the co-circulation of other respiratory viruses. In the United States of America hospitalizations associated to influenza and deaths caused by pneumonia and influenza have continued to increase.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) / World Health Organization (WHO) reiterates the series of recommendations to Member States preparing for an upcoming influenza season in order to face the possible increased circulation of the influenza virus.

In light of current cholera outbreaks in the Region, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) / World Health Organization (WHO) recommends Member States implement their preparedness and response plans and strengthen cholera surveillance systems. PAHO/WHO also calls on countries to further efforts to improve quality and conditions of water and sanitation. 

In light of the isolation of the first Staphylococcus aureus resistant to vancomycin in Latin America, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recommends that Member States continue to establish and maintain their capacity for rapid detection and reporting of this resistance mechanism to antibiotics for the implementation of infection prevention and control measures associated with health care.

The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recommends that Member States maintain the capacity to detect any unusual health event, including those that may be associated with a new subtype of influenza A. Encourages Member States to update and implement the relevant components of multi-risk plans for preparedness and response to public health events.

The organization does not advise special screening at points of entry with regard to this event, nor does it recommend that any travel or trade restrictions be applied.

With the start of the influenza season in the southern hemisphere, several countries are experiencing an increase in patient visits for Influenza-like Illness (ILI), as well as hospitalizations associated with influenza, a situation that is expected for this time of year.

At the beginning of the flu season in the southern hemisphere, the Pan American Health Organization /World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recommend Member States to ensure the adequate clinical management of the patients, the strict implementation of prevention and control measures in health care settings, while at the same time strengthen preparedness of their health services to cope with a potential influx of patients and reinforce communication to the public on the preventative measures.

The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recommends that Member States maintain the capacity to detect any unusual health event, including those that might be associated with a new subtype of influenza A. Member States are encouraged to update and implement the relevant components of multi-hazard plans for preparedness and response to public health events.

The Organization does not advise special screening at points of entry with regard to this event, nor does it recommend that any travel or trade restrictions be applied.

The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) updated the Cholera outbreaks situation in the Region.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) / World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that Member States implement prevention and control in health care and gated communities to reduce the impact caused by norovirus outbreaks.

The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recommends that Member States continue efforts to prepare and maintain the capacity to detect any unusual health event, including those that might be associated with a new subtype of influenza virus. PAHO/WHO encourages Member States to consider developing diagnostic capabilities for detecting infection caused by avian influenza A(H7N9).

The Organization does not advise health screening at points of entry in relation to this event, nor that any travel or trade restrictions be applied.

Given the detection of the first cases of autochthonous transmission of chikungunya fever in the Americas, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) / World Health Organization (WHO) recommends Member States establish and maintain the capacity to detect and confirm cases, manage cases and implement an effective public communication strategy to reduce vector presence, particularly in areas where the mosquito that transmits the disease is present.