Cricket World Cup: a stress test for the surveillance system in the Caribbean.

Objective: To describe the development and implementation of and major findings and recommendations from, a regional mass gathering surveillance system (MGSS) in support of the International Cricket Council Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007.

Methods: The regional MGSS was developed by the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) and its member countries as an adaptation of the routine communicable disease surveillance system in order to rapidly detect unusual disease events during the tournament. The implementation of the MGSS required the identification of additional human and financial resources, capacity building activities, laboratory strengthening, and improved global epidemic surveillance and communication mechanisms.

An unusual case of traumatic petechiae.

We report a rare cause of traumatic petechiae without the full blown symptoms and signs of traumatic asphyxia. There were no complications encountered and there was spontaneous resolution.