Professor Emerita Celia DC Christie-Samuels

Publication/source: The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 10.1097, 2026

Description / abstract: This retrospective observational cohort study evaluated acute illness predictors of pediatric Long coronavirus disease 2019 in Jamaica. Poisson regression modeling associated acute univariate symptoms of vomiting, abdominal pain, ageusia, anosmia, fatigue, confusion, brain fog, and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children and multivariable composite predictors of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, vomiting and ageusia. The 47.3% incidence supports the need for improvements in similar resource-constrained settings.

Publication/source: Paediatrics and International Child Health 45 (1-2), 18-25, 2025

Description / abstract: Background Whilst vertical transmission of Zika virus (ZIKV) is established as the cause of congenital Zika syndrome (CZS), knowledge of this emerging disease remains incomplete. Aim To characterise the clinical, radiological and neurodevelopmental features of children antenatally exposed to ZIKV and/or presenting with suspected CZS in Jamaica, as part of the larger, international ZIKAction Paediatric Registry. Methods This retrospective observational study (disease/exposure hospital-based registry) included children cared for at public hospitals in the Greater Kingston Metropolitan Area, Jamaica if they had exposure to ZIKV in utero, laboratory confirmation of congenital ZIKV, or met the ZIKAction’s Registry definition of suspected CZS. Maternal, perinatal and child data were extracted from hospital records and descriptive analyses conducted. Head circumference (HC) Z-scores were calculated using the …

Publication/source: Current Opinion in Pediatrics 37 (5), 508, 2025

Description / abstract: Purpose of review Against the WHO's report of 84% diphtheria–pertussis–tetanus (DPT) primary vaccination coverage globally, the resurgence of pertussis (whooping cough), contributing factors and measures to control it are described. Recent findings USA and China, with 94–97% primary DPT immunization uptake, reported a 6-fold and 65-fold increase in pertussis between two time periods in 2023 and 2024. The global post-COVID-19 pertussis epidemic is trending towards a shift from infants towards older persons. Macrolide resistance is prevalent in 98% of Bordetella pertussis strains in China and is now reported from other countries. Pertactin-deficient mutant acellular pertussis vaccine-evasive strains are now transmitted in older children and adults. Pertactin-producing B. pertussis is causing fulminant pertussis in newborns whose mothers were not immunized in pregnancy and in under-immunized infants …

Publication/source: Bulletin of the World Health Organization 102 (10), 699, 2024

Description / abstract: The normative role of the World Health Organization (WHO) involves creating evidence-based, principled guidelines to guide its Member States in making well-informed public health decisions. While these guidelines often need to be adapted to ensure contextual relevance, foster better implementation and adherence, adapting existing guidelines is more efficient than creating new ones. Here we describe the adaptation of the WHO coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) living guideline on pharmacological interventions for the Caribbean using the grading of recommendations, assessment, development and evaluation (GRADE)-ADOLOPMENT method. The Caribbean Public Health Agency and the Pan American Health Organization led the effort, assembling a diverse panel of 16 experts from seven Caribbean countries and territories. The adaptation process, involving 15 steps, was guided by an experienced …