Laboratory: The efforts to enhance laboratory capacity for the diagnosis and detection of arboviral diseases in the Americas have included the development and standardization of diagnostic algorithms for arboviruses.
Recent activities involved hosting webinars to educate and prepare laboratory responses to outbreaks of arboviral diseases. Additionally, support has been provided for the distribution of reagents used in serological and molecular tests, ensuring that laboratories across the region have access to necessary resources. Support has been provided to strengthen laboratory capacity for timely and accurate diagnosis and detection of cases throughout the region.
The Arbovirus Diagnosis Laboratory Network of the Americas (RELDA), which works to ensure efficient laboratory surveillance and robust installed capacity to respond to outbreaks and epidemics, has been strengthened to face the introduction of new dengue serotypes and the re-emergence of other arboviral diseases, such as chikungunya, Zika, and the West Nile virus, all of which are currently circulating in the region alongside dengue. Recently, RELDA established recommendations for the genomic surveillance of Arboviruses, diagnostic algorithms were updated, and progress was made with the entomo-virological surveillance guides.
Clinical care: A package of interventions has been prepared for countries to strengthen clinical care. This includes the development and dissemination of treatment guidelines, the provision of virtual training materials, a virtual classroom to train the trainers, and the organization of subnational networks of clinical instructors who provide local-scale clinical training.
The establishment of the National Network of Clinical Experts in Arboviral Diseases has also been a key component of a comprehensive approach. This network operates under the direct coordination of national health authorities, with members designated by these authorities. The network facilitates the transfer of technological knowledge, standardizes case management practices, and ensures an ongoing program of continuous education for its members.
Furthermore, there has been significant expansion during 2023 of the online course on Clinical Diagnosis and Management of Dengue on the PAHO/WHO Virtual Campus of Public Health. This self-learning course is aimed at specialist doctors, general practitioners, nursing staff, as well as medical and nursing students, and all personnel who in one way or another are involved in the care of patients suspected of having dengue, at all levels of healthcare, but mainly at the first level of care.
Additionally, PAHO/WHO experts are being periodically deployed in countries that are being affected by major outbreaks, and advice to member countries for the decision to access new technologies to reduce the severity of Dengue, such as the newly approved vaccines.
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