Publications by authors named "Gerhaldine H Morazan"
Chagas disease is a leading cause of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy in endemic regions of Central and South America. In Belize, Triatoma dimidiata sensu lato has been identified as the predominate taxon but vectorial transmission of Chagas disease is considered to be rare in the country. We recently identified an acute case of vector-borne Chagas disease in the northern region of Belize.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn January 2020, we instituted acute febrile illness surveillance in 11 hospitals and clinics across Belize. Within 3 months, we diagnosed an acute case of Chagas disease by polymerase chain reaction in a 7-year-old child in the northern part of the country. Phylogenetic analyses of the parasite from the acute blood specimen revealed a multiclonal Trypanosoma cruzi infection, including parasites from the TcII (25.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - WASH infrastructure and practices, particularly hand hygiene, are essential for preventing the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses, with guidance tailored to COVID-19 built upon existing WASH standards.
- - Collaborating with local organizations, tools were created to assess WASH conditions and practices, leading to interventions aimed at mitigating COVID-19 in healthcare and community settings within low- and middle-income countries.
- - Observations showed gaps in access to hand hygiene materials despite improved water supply, and adherence to hand hygiene was significantly better after patient contact, highlighting the need for better management of handwashing stations and enforcement of global WASH standards in communal spaces.