Zika Virus Updated Alert

The Acting Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Samuel Williams Rodriguez, wishes to advise that as of Monday, 25 April 2016 there are no reported or confirmed cases of Zika virus in the Cayman Islands.

There are forty two (42) countries worldwide that have been experiencing a first outbreak of the Zika virus since 2015, with no previous evidence of circulation, and with ongoing transmission by mosquitoes. Seventeen (17) countries have reported evidence of Zika virus transmission prior to 2015, with or without ongoing transmission, or have reported an outbreak since 2015 that is now over.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is also reporting that after careful review of existing evidence, the Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects.
Pregnant women continue to be cautioned when travelling to countries where there is an established and ongoing outbreak of the Zika virus.

Eight countries have now reported evidence of sexual transmission (person-to-person) of the Zika virus, other than mosquito-borne transmission: Argentina, Chile, France, Italy, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal and the United States. Peru and Portugal are the latest countries to report person-to-person transmission.

In all cases, the males travelled to countries with active Zika virus transmission. Where sufficient information was provided related to unprotected sexual intercourse before, during, or shortly after cessation of the males’ symptoms, sexual partners did not visit a country with known active Zika virus transmission.

No cases of transmission from women infected with Zika virus to their sexual partners have been reported to date. From individual case reports, Zika virus RNA has been detected up to 62 days after onset of symptoms in semen.

It is, however, not currently known if sexual transmission can occur from asymptomatic males to their sex partners.

While there are no confirmed cases of the Zika virus in the Cayman Islands, Dr. Samuel Williams-Rodriguez is using this opportunity to remind the public that the dengue fever and chikungunya viruses are still circulating within the Caribbean region. The Cayman Islands is reporting its first imported case of dengue for 2016.

“As at 21 April 2016, the Public Health Department is confirming one case of imported dengue after a resident returned to Cayman following a visit to a dengue endemic country. As we have the Aedes aegypti mosquito in the Cayman Islands, which is the vector involved in the spread of dengue fever, for example, we do have potential for transmission if a returning resident or a visitor has the dengue virus,” he said.

Since January 2016, 27 patients have been tested for Zika, chikungunya and/or dengue. The total number of tests performed is 60. There is one result pending. “While we are still thankful that we do not as yet have any cases of Zika in the Cayman Islands, we must remain vigilant. As there is no vaccine against the Zika virus (or for dengue or chikungunya), this highlights the importance of controlling the carrier mosquito. We continue to encourage the general public to remove any containers from their yards which can hold water, such as buckets, plant pots and discarded tyres, as these are the favoured breeding sites for this mosquito,” said Dr. Bill Petrie, Director of the Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU).

For further information contact the Public Health Department on 244-2621 or the MRCU on 949-2557.

Side Bar:

49 countries reporting active Zika transmission in the last nine months.

As of 22 April 2016, areas with active Zika virus transmission are: