A little more than a week ago, CDC became aware of an investigation of a cluster of mild febrile/rash illness in northeast Brazil (Bahia State) preliminarily suspected to be associated with Zika virus infection. A similar cluster is also said to have been identified in Colombia. To date, confirmatory laboratory testing has not been completed, but the level of suspicion is high. Further details of the situation are scant. On May 7, PAHO released the attached Epi Alert. Zika has been moving across the Pacific. Last year in March, Cecilia Perret from Chile contacted GeoSentinel to let us know about a boy on Easter Island with laboratory confirmed Zika Virus infection. Subsequently, autochthonous transmission was confirmed. A recent survey of the GeoSentinel database revealed a total of 8 patients diagnosed with Zika virus infection encountered during 13 December 2013 through 22 December 2014. Exposure for these patients was listed as Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and French Polynesia. Please see the attached Excel file for details. As you know, Zika virus is transmitted by the same mosquito vectors as dengue and chikungunya. These vectors are widely established throughout the Americas. Once introduced, Zika has a high likelihood of spreading rapidly, in a manner similar to recent spread of chikungunya virus. Please remain vigilant, and consider adding Zika virus testing when evaluating travelers with compatible illness returning from the region. Thank you.
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A little more than a week ago, CDC became aware of an investigation of a cluster of mild febrile/rash illness in northeast Brazil (Bahia State) preliminarily suspected to be associated with Zika virus infection. A similar cluster is also said to have been identified in Colombia. To date, confirmatory laboratory testing has not been completed, but the level of suspicion is high. Further details of the situation are scant. On May 7, PAHO released the attached Epi Alert. Zika has been moving across the Pacific. Last year in March, Cecilia Perret from Chile contacted GeoSentinel to let us know about a boy on Easter Island with laboratory confirmed Zika Virus infection. Subsequently, autochthonous transmission was confirmed. A recent survey of the GeoSentinel database revealed a total of 8 patients diagnosed with Zika virus infection encountered during 13 December 2013 through 22 December 2014. Exposure for these patients was listed as Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and French Polynesia. Please see the attached Excel file for details. As you know, Zika virus is transmitted by the same mosquito vectors as dengue and chikungunya. These vectors are widely established throughout the Americas. Once introduced, Zika has a high likelihood of spreading rapidly, in a manner similar to recent spread of chikungunya virus. Please remain vigilant, and consider adding Zika virus testing when evaluating travelers with compatible illness returning from the region. Thank you.