The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has confirmed the region has been removed from the World Health Organization’s list of nations with active Zika virus transmission.
In a boost for the region’s tourism industry, CARPHA successfully lobbied the WHO to have the Caribbean downgraded to Category 3 (no Zika transmission).
The reclassification comes after data was shared from health agencies in Canada, the UK, Europe, and the United States showing no Zika cases from its citizens returning from the Caribbean region in the past 12 months.
This data was used by CARICOM to urge the WHO director general to downgrade the risk in the Caribbean.
"The Caribbean is the most tourism-dependent region in the world. CARPHA felt compelled to provide the evidence and to advocate for the removal of this WHO Zika classification system," said executive director, Dr C. James Hospedales.
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association and the Caribbean Tourism Organization had both made formal requests to CARPHA to push for reclassification.
CARPHA is still urging residents and visiting tourists to take necessary precautions as the Zika carrying Aedes aegypti mosquito is still present in the region.
