Prime Minister Gaston Browne says the government’s decision to establish an Infectious Disease Centre during the COVID-19 pandemic is proving important after Antigua and Barbuda recently recorded two imported malaria cases, including one death.
Speaking on Pointe FM on Saturday, Browne said the facility has now been reactivated as a precautionary measure amid heightened global health concerns, including Ebola outbreaks in parts of Africa.
“What we have done as well, we have reactivated the IDC — Infectious Disease Center,” Browne said.
The Prime Minister revealed that one of the two imported malaria patients died but stressed that health officials found no evidence of local transmission after carrying out contact tracing.
“We had two cases of malaria. These were imported, and one of the individuals unfortunately succumbed to his illness,” Browne said.
“Having done the contact tracing and so on, there’s no evidence that there’s been any spread,” he added.
Browne said the country’s mosquito population also reduces the likelihood of broader transmission.
“We don’t have a lot of them here, so it’s very unlikely that there would be any spread through mosquitoes or any other vector,” Browne said.
The Prime Minister used the situation to defend the government’s investment in specialized infectious disease infrastructure, noting that some critics had questioned the need for the facility after the COVID-19 pandemic subsided.
“You’ll always have epidemics and pandemics,” Browne said. “Having an infectious disease center for those type of contagious diseases is very important and is a very important part of the health infrastructure of the country.”
Browne said the Infectious Disease Centre would allow authorities to isolate any future patients quickly while conducting contact tracing and treatment.
“If any of them were to take ill while they’re here, we can easily isolate them and of course do the necessary contact tracing,” Browne said.
The Prime Minister also confirmed that Antigua and Barbuda has reinstated enhanced airport health screening measures, including infrared thermal scanners and other protocols previously used during the COVID-19 pandemic.