This region includes the countries of North and South America and island nations in their adjacent waters. This region includes three of the largest countries in the world, as well as some of the smallest.
While this region is virtually free of some infectious diseases, including poliomyelitis and measles, many other infectious diseases remain endemic and epidemic. In January 2010, Haiti experienced a devastating earthquake that damaged and destroyed several buildings, including hospitals. The country continues to face many health challenges, particularly the spread of cholera in the aftermath of the earthquake. The region is currently under threat from dengue and chikungunya.
NIAID priorities in the Americas include research on HIV/AIDS, influenza, tuberculosis, malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and neglected tropical diseases, particularly Chagas disease which is endemic only in Central and South America. All NIAID activities in this region aim to improve understanding of these diseases and to translate new discoveries into methods of preventing, diagnosing, and treating them.
Contact Information
For more information about NIAID-funded activities in the Americas and Caribbean region, please email NIAIDOGRACAP@mail.nih.gov.