A Novel Hotel-based Syndromic Surveillance System for the Caribbean Region

Introduction The tourism industry is highly vulnerable to Health, Safety, and Environmental Sanitation (HSE) threats. The Caribbean is the most tourism dependent region in the world, with over 54.2 million stayover and cruise ship arrivals in 2015, generating revenues of $US29.6 billion and contributing to 15% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 2,255,000 jobs [1]. Tourists and staff are at an increased risk of acquiring infectious diseases, given the mass-gathering of individuals with varying levels of susceptibility and often times in close quarters in hotels and cruise ships. To prevent the spread of infectious diseases in these settings, early warning and response to potential public health threats is essential. To increase the capacity of countries in the Caribbean monitor and protect the health of tourists and staff in their hotel establishments, THiS was designed as an early warning system for infectious disease outbreaks.