Latin America. Due to the Epidemiological Alert of Chikungunya Fever and Dengue in the Americas issued by the Pan American Health Organization on the Chikungunya virus, the Latin American Security Association , ALAS, was obliged to reschedule the fifth edition of the Management Summit, scheduled for October 16 and 17, 2014 in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
After analyzing the information issued, the communiqués of local authorities of different countries and international organizations , WINGS determined that Chikungunya fever represents an important risk factor for the safety of the people who would attend the event and a risk for the further spread of this disease.
According to the Report of the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization of August 29, 2014, the number of cases reported mainly in countries and territories of the Caribbean region amounts to more than 659,000 including 37 deaths.
Chikungunya is a virus that is transmitted by the bite of mosquitoes of the Aedes type, causes high fever, joint pain , headache and muscle pain. Although it rarely causes death, joint pain can last for months or years and sometimes become a chronic pain and cause of disability for some people. There is to date no specific treatment or vaccine available to prevent infection with this virus.
"For the Organizing Committee of the event it is of vital importance to guarantee the safety and well-being of the attendees of the same, therefore, it has taken this difficult decision in order to protect the people and companies that support us. The new schedule includes the event in Miami in July 2015. (Soon ALAS will be communicating more details such as venue and date)," the Association said in a statement.
