Trinidad and Tobago has called on the leaders of all Caribbean nations to meet to discuss a coordinated response to the twin threats of the Ebola and Chikungunya viruses.
Trinidad Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has offered to host a CARICOM meeting and wants to formulate a plan of action to protect the region’s tourism industry.
"My advice to colleague heads of government in the Caribbean is to take pre-emptive measures to ensure the safety, health and well-being of millions of citizens of the Caribbean region, she said.
"While our risk is low, our actions must further diminish the risks to our citizens and I am confident that nations across CARICOM will respond favorably."
The Office of the Prime Minister also issued a statement saying "CARICOM must address international decisions made which will undoubtedly affect the region’s tourism industry."
"The meeting will feature discussions geared towards orchestrating a plan of action in response to the increasing number of cases of Chikungunya in the Caribbean and the prevention of the Ebola virus disease," it added.
As yet no positive cases of Ebola have been reported in the Caribbean but the mosquito borne Chikungunya virus has affected many countries in the region.
