Measles, a highly contagious disease which can lead to severe complications and death, was the fifth vaccine-preventable disease to be eliminated from the Caribbean and countries of the Americas, after the regional eradication of endemic smallpox in 1971, polio in 1994, and rubella and congenital rubella syndrome in 2015.
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. 25 June 2024. To facilitate a reduction in the mortality associated with measles, the WHO Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network (GMRLN) was established in 2000. This network includes national and regional laboratories involved in national and/or regional control and elimination programmes for measles. Demonstration of the quality of laboratories in the GMRLN is critical to maintain stakeholders’ confidence in the surveillance programme and that the laboratories are providing results with high sensitivity and specificity.
During the 21st Meeting of the WHO GMRLN in Dublin, Ireland, June 23-July 1, 2023, CARPHA’s Medical Microbiology Laboratory (CMML) was identified as the fastest laboratory to submit Molecular External Quality Assessments (EQAs) results for both Measles and Rubella. The results were announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
CMML correctly submitted the results and all required documentation for the reporting of both the Measles and Rubella Molecular EQAs in the fastest turnaround time of two days from all participating laboratories globally.
Globally, there were 109 participating laboratories for the measles mEQA and 102 laboratories for the rubella mEQA and of these, 94 measles mEQA reports and 87 rubella mEQA reports were received by the GMRLN. The Measles and Rubella Molecular EQAs (mEQAs) had to be ordered by January 16, 2023, through the International Reagent Resource, and results submitted within a three-month period.
Dr Joy St. John, Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) stated “This achievement is significant for CARPHA and its Member States as it comes against the background of a global thrust to reverse the negative impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on routine vaccination and epidemiological surveillance, as well as the re-emergence of measles outbreaks.”
Dr. SueMin Nathaniel, Manager of Laboratory Services and Networks at CARPHA informed that “2023 marked a 79% global increase in measles relative to 2022 and by February 2024, the Region of the Americas which had previously achieved measles elimination status (in 2016) had recorded 55 confirmed measles cases in six countries. These cases which were a combination of imported, import-related or from an unknown source, prompted a Regional Review by PAHO, in March 2024, of measles and rubella, inclusive of surveillance and vaccination activities.”
The increased foreign travel post COVID-19 Pandemic and the heavy dependence upon tourism by the CARPHA Member States, increases their vulnerability to the transfer of infectious agents.
“Timely and accurate measles and rubella detection by the CARPHA Medical Microbiology Laboratory, as demonstrated in the performance of the external quality assurance tests of the GMRLN, will enhance the detection of measles and rubella and decrease the turnaround time for the availability of laboratory data to inform public health decision-making by the CARPHA Member States. This will in turn help to safeguard the health and well-being of residents and visitors of the Member States while promoting both Regional and Global Health Security,” stated Dr. Michelle Hamilton, Head of Laboratory Services and Networks at CARPHA.
About the CMML https://carpha.org/What-We-Do/LABS/CARPHA-Medical-Microbiology-Laboratory
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