Zika virus – Incidence and trends
To date, 38 countries and territories have confirmed local, vector-borne transmission of Zika virus in the Region of the Americas since 2015. Since the last Pan American Health Organization/ World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) Zika Epidemiological Update on 28 April, Grenada, Peru, and Saint Barthélemy have confirmed vector-borne autochthonous transmission of Zika virus.
In relation to the observed trend of cases of Zika virus disease, as mentioned in previous updates, some countries in the Region of the Americas have been showing a downward trend in new cases (suspected and confirmed), consistent with seasonal trends observed in corresponding periods in previous years for other mosquito-borne diseases. Conversely, during the same seasonality, in other countries and territories, an increasing tendency is observed. Epidemiological situation in Suriname with a decreasing trend of cases of Zika virus disease illustrated below.
Suriname
In Suriname, autochthonous cases of Zika virus disease were first detected in epidemiological week (EW) 37 of 2015. The epidemiological curve demonstrates a bimodal shape with a peak in EW 49 of 2015 (93 cases) and a subsequent peak in EW 4 of 2016 (406 cases). A gradually decreasing trend is observed following EW 4 of 2016.