Zika virus – Incidence and trends
To date, 45 countries and territories have confirmed local, vector-borne transmission of Zika virus disease in the Region of the Americas since 2015. 1 In addition, five countries in the Americas have reported sexually transmitted Zika cases.2 Since the last Pan American Health Organization/ World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) Zika Epidemiological Update on 29 July 2016, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, and the United States of America have confirmed vector-borne autochthonous transmission of Zika virus.
Highlighted below is a summary of the Zika epidemiological situation by sub-regions of the Americas.
North America
In the last four epidemiological weeks (EW), Mexico has presented a decreasing trend in confirmed Zika virus disease cases, while the United States of America has reported its first outbreak of autochthonous vector borne Zika transmission in an area of the Miami-Dade County in the state of Florida.
Central America
In all of the countries of Central America, a decreasing trend of cases has been observed in the last four weeks. The greatest increase in Zika virus disease cases in Central America occurred between late 2015 and early 2016.Caribbean6 In the Caribbean, the Zika virus epidemic began in early 2016 and up to EW 32 of 2016 a downward trend is observed, with the exception of St. Barthélemy and Saint Martin. The evolution in the following weeks will confirm if the trend of declining cases will continue.
Additionally, in the past four weeks, four additional countries/territories have confirmed the autochthonous circulation of Zika.
South America
In South America, all countries are reporting decreasing numbers of Zika virus disease cases.