Epidemiological update: Outbreaks of Zika virus and complications potentially linked to the Zika virus infection, 25 August 2016

​Page last updated: 26 August 2016 

 

Since 1 February 2016, Zika virus infection and the related clusters of microcephaly cases and other neurological disorders constitute a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). Since 2015, and as of 25 August 2016, there have been 61 countries and territories reporting mosquito-borne transmission. According to WHO and as of 24 August 2016, 20 countries or territories have reported microcephaly and other central nervous system (CNS) malformations potentially associated with Zika virus infection or suggestive of congenital infection.

New developments since the last epidemiological update

 

The USA

Eight new autochthonous cases have been reported in Florida since the last CDTR, bringing the number of locally transmitted cases to 43. This week, Florida authorities reported a new affected county: Pinellas county. As of 25 August, the number of autochthonous cases reported in Florida state is as follow: 39 cases in Miami-Dade, one in Broward, two in Palm Beach and one in Pinellas.

Health officials have been collecting and testing human samples, and mosquito abatement activities are underway in some of the involved areas.

 

Publications

This week NEJM published an article: "Prolonged Shedding of Zika Virus Associated with Congenital Infection".

 

EU/EEA imported cases

Since week 45/2015, 19 countries (Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK) have reported 1 334 travel-associated Zika virus infections through The European Surveillance System (TESSy). Over the same time period, six EU countries reported 75 Zika cases among pregnant women.

 

EU’s Outermost Regions and Territories

 

As of 25 August 2016:

 

• Martinique: 35 230 suspected cases have been reported, an increase of 270 since last week. The weekly number of cases is stable. 
• French Guiana: 9 535 suspected cases have been detected, an increase of 75 cases since last week. The weekly number of cases is stable.
• Guadeloupe: 28 665 suspected cases have been detected, an increase of 600 suspected cases since last week. The weekly number of cases continues to decrease.
• St Barthélemy: 535 suspected cases have been detected, an increase of 45 suspected cases since last week. The weekly number of cases has been decreasing during the past two weeks.
• St Martin: 1 990 suspected cases have been detected, an increase of 55 suspected cases since last week. The weekly number of cases has been slightly increasing during the past week.

 

The USA

Eight new autochthonous cases have been reported in Florida since the last CDTR, bringing the number of locally transmitted cases to 43. This week, Florida authorities reported a new affected county: Pinellas county. As of 25 August, the number of authoctonous cases reported in Miami states are as follows: 39 cases in Miami-Dade, one in Broward, two in Palm Beach and one in Pinellas.

 

Update on microcephaly and/or central nervous system (CNS) malformations potentially associated with Zika virus infection

As of 24 August 2016, microcephaly and other central nervous system (CNS) malformations associated with Zika virus infection or suggestive of congenital infection have been reported by 20 countries or territories. Brazil reports the highest number of cases. Eighteen countries and territories worldwide have reported an increased incidence of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and/or laboratory confirmation of a Zika virus infection among GBS cases.

 

Since February 2016, 11 countries have reported evidence of person-to-person transmission of Zika virus, probably via a sexual route.

 

In the EU, Spain (2) and Slovenia (1) have reported congenital malformations associated with Zika virus infection after travel in the affected areas. Cases have also been detected in the EU’s Outermost Regions and Territories in Martinique, French Guiana and French Polynesia.

ECDC assessment

The spread of the Zika virus epidemic in the Americas is likely to continue as the vectors (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes) are widely distributed there. The likelihood of travel-related cases in the EU is increasing. As neither treatment nor vaccines are available, prevention is based on personal protection measures. Pregnant women should consider postponing non-essential travel to Zika-affected areas.

 

Table 1. Countries and territories with reported confirmed autochthonous cases of Zika virus infection in the past three months, as of 26 August 2016

 

The classification of countries above is based on: 1) number of reported autochthonous confirmed cases; 2) number of countries who report a zika virus transmission or a country’s transmission status changes; 3) duration of the circulation.

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Figure 1. Countries or territories with reported confirmed autochthonous cases of Zika virus infection in the past three months, as of 19 August 2016

All latest ECDC maps with information on countries or territories with reported confirmed autochthonous cases of Zika virus infection