CAREC tackles food poisoning

Minister of Health John Rahael will officially open a four-day meeting today at 4 pm at the Hilton Trinidad to tackle food borne diseases being hosted by the Caribbean Epidemi-ology Centre (CAREC). In a statement yesterday CAREC said it was bringing together representatives from major regional and international organisations, including the private sector, to discuss surveillance of food borne diseases. CAREC is hosting the meeting in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation, Pan American Health Institute for Food Protection and Zoonoses, CARICOM, and the Food and Agriculture Organisation.

The purpose of the event is to not only meet the international requirements of bodies like the World Trade Organisation, but also to protect the hospitality industry. The statement quoted CAREC director, Dr James Hospedales, saying: “One only has to recall the much publicised situation in Tobago last year when a major resort was struck. More than 70 visitors fell ill and the hotel had to be closed for several weeks, resulting in job loss for several persons and no doubt serious economic loss to the industry.” The event will be attended by health officials from 14 Caribbean countries, plus international institutions like Pan American Health Organisation, World Health Organisation, Carib-bean Food and Nutrition Institute, United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the US Food and Drug Administra-tion, and Health Canada.