2018 Zika Health Brigade: Delivering Critical Health Screening in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Shana Godfred-Cato,Romeo R Galang,Lessely Brown-Shuler,Esther M Ellis,Dan Schoelles,Megan R Reynolds,Braeanna Hillman,Leah Dewilde,Amy Hudson,Cynthia A Moore,Andra Prosper,S Nicole Fehrenbach

doi:10.3390/tropicalmed5040168

Abstract

In 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria caused significant damage to the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), heightening the challenges many residents faced in accessing adequate healthcare and receiving recommended Zika virus screening services. To address this challenge, the USVI Department of Health (DOH) requested technical assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to organize a health brigade to bring needed medical care to an underserved population. It also established the development of important partnerships between federal and private partners as well as between clinical providers and public health entities such as the Epidemiology & Disease Reporting, Maternal Child Health (MCH), and Infant and Toddlers Programs within the DOH, and local clinicians. This health brigade model could be replicated to ensure recommended evaluations are delivered to populations that may have unmet medical needs due to the complexity of the conditions and/or rural location.

Highlights

Zika virus was first identified in 1947 in a rhesus monkey in Uganda
A link between Zika virus infection and microcephaly was reported in October 2015 in Brazil, and by February 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that Zika virus infection associated with microcephaly constituted a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) [1]
Thirteen pediatric specialty providers traveled to United States Virgin Islands (USVI) and worked with 17 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Health (DOH), and Maternal Child Health (MCH) staff for a total of 30 personnel working 4200 h in the planning and execution of the Zika health brigade

Summary

Introduction

Zika virus was first identified in 1947 in a rhesus monkey in Uganda. A link between Zika virus infection and microcephaly was reported in October 2015 in Brazil, and by February 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that Zika virus infection associated with microcephaly constituted a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) [1]. Exposure to Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause serious defects of the brain and eye and has been associated with neurodevelopmental abnormalities, such as seizures, joint contractures, swallowing difficulties, vision impairments, and hearing loss, in infants [2,3]. In the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), approximately 290 infants have been born to mothers with confirmed or probable Zika virus infection during pregnancy [5]. In 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria caused significant damage to USVI, heightening the challenges many residents faced in accessing adequate healthcare and receiving recommended Zika virus screening services. Patients travel to see pediatric specialists outside the territory. As of January 2016, one pediatric neurologist and one developmental pediatrician provided services to USVI; both traveled from outside the territory. There were no pediatric ophthalmologists or audiologists serving the territory

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Discussion

Conclusion