ABJ Health Consulting Solutions
An estimated 790 million people (11% of the world’s population) without access to an improved water supply.
An estimated 2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation (more than 35% of the world’s population)
Promoting Healthier Communities
Increasing the Quality of Family Health
Promoting Healthy Life-styles and Behaviors
What We Do
ABJ Health Consulting Solutions, Inc. provides technical assistance, training, research, project management and database development to various health institutions and organizations. We offer a wide range of services in the field of epidemiology to our clients, each with the objective of improving the quality of life and well-being of individuals and promoting healthy lifestyles in vulnerable populations.
Poor health outcomes are influenced by social conditions in which persons are born, grow, live and age. The inequitable distribution of resources among underserved populations or people who lack access to affordable healthcare demands an increased understanding of social determinants of health and community engagement. Our objective is to provide consulting solutions to the disproportionate burden of diseases due to socioeconomic, cultural, geographical and environmental factors that influence health outcomes.
ABJ works with federal, state and local governments, international governments, international organizations, nonprofit institutions and universities in the United States and abroad to offer confidential services and evidence-based solutions to public health issues.
Areas of Expertise
Design & Research Methodology
Training, Workshops & Seminars
Investigation of Disease Outbreaks
Collection of Surveillance Data
Blood Donor Recruitment
Donor Barriers and Motivators
Donor Recruitment and Retention
Donor Recruitment Strategies
Collection of Donor Data
Analyses of Blood Donor Data
Statistical Programming – SPSS, Epi-Info
Modeling, Regression, Survival Analyses
GIS & Mapping Applications
Research & Evaluations
Blood Donor Behavioral Studies
Determinants of Health
STI and HIV Studies
GIS and Spatial Epidemiology
Latest News Headlines
Chikungunya virus: a potential for outbreaks in the United States
The Chikungunya virus is now spreading in the United States. As of June 2014, 13 states, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands have reported cases. The virus will most likely continue to spread to other states. Approximately 60% of cases were reported in Florida. A total of 57 travel-associated cases have been reported in the US and 23 locally-associated cases were reported in Puerto Rico. Travelers from the Caribbean islands of Dominica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Martinique and Saint Martin were the main source of transmission. The introduction of the virus in the US is mainly due to increased travel, competent vectors and population susceptibility.
Cases of Chikungunya virus infection were first reported in the Caribbean island of Saint Martin in December 2013. As of June 2014, the total number of confirmed cases in 23 Caribbean islands is 4,805; over 165,900 suspected cases have been reported as of June 13, 2014
The virus is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which are also responsible for the transmission of dengue. Some of the symptoms of Chikungunya include fever, muscle pain, stiffness, severe pain in the ankles, knuckles, wrists and joints. The incubation period is usually between four to seven days. Symptoms may last between three and ten days, but joint pain may persist for months and become a cause for chronic pain and disability. Older adults are at an increased risk for more severe disease possible due to decreased immunologic response. It is possible that both dengue and Chikungunya viruses can coexist in the same patient.
The best way to protect yourself from the virus is to avoid mosquito bites and destroy mosquito-breeding sites in your area. The use of insect repellent and the wearing of long-sleeved shirts and long pants is recommended. There is no treatment for this disease and no vaccine to prevent it.