National communicable diseases digest: Epidemiological week 20

ABSTRACT

This communicable diseases digest offers a summary of incidence rates for the Ministry of Health's epidemiological week 20. It draws on weekly data retrieved through the Belize Health Information System (BHIS) which seeks to improve individual health outcomes and public health performance as well as to optimize resource utilization. Using graphics, national, seasonal and weekly trends are compared for the following Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs), a leading cause of death among children under the age of five; Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARIs), which have the potential for large scale epidemics; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Vector Borne Diseases; Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs); and other Communicable Diseases/Outbreaks/Public Health related incidents.