Epidemiological update: Outbreaks of Zika virus and complications potentially linked to the Zika virus infection, 22 September 2016

​This page was last updated on 23 September 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 22 September 2016, there have been 65 countries and territories reporting mosquito-borne transmission. According to WHO and as of 15 September 2016, 21 countries or territories have reported microcephaly and other central nervous system (CNS) malformations potentially associated with Zika virus infection or suggestive of congenital infection.

Update on number of cases

 

Twenty new locally-acquired cases have been reported in Florida since the last CDTR, brining the total number of locally-acquired cases to 92. In Asia, Singapore and Thailand continue to report locally-acquired cases. On 18 September, Saint Kitts and Nevis (Caribbean islands) reported the first three cases of locally-acquired Zika infection.

The USA

Twenty new locally-acquired cases have been recorded in Florida over the past week. To date, 92 locally-acquired and 682 imported cases of Zika have been reported in Florida. The distribution of the locally-acquired cases is as follow: 85 in Miami-Dade, five in Palm beach, one in Pinellas and one in Broward.

Singapore

As of 22 September 2016, the Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA) recorded 385 locally-acquired ZIKV cases, an increase of 30 cases since the last CDTR. 

 

EU/EEA imported cases

Since week 45/2015, 19 countries (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom) have reported 1 624 travel-associated Zika virus infections through The European Surveillance System (TESSy). Over the same time period, seven EU countries reported 80 Zika cases among pregnant women.

 

EU’s Outermost Regions and Territories  

As of 22 September 2016:

• Martinique: 36 260 suspected cases have been reported, an increase of 160 since last week. The weekly number of cases is stable.
• French Guiana: 9 740 suspected cases have been detected, an increase of 77 cases since last week. The weekly number of cases is stable.
• Guadeloupe: 30 130 suspected cases have been detected, an increase of 290 suspected cases since last week. The weekly number of cases is stable.
• St Barthélemy: 725 suspected cases have been detected, an increase of 55 suspected cases since last week. The weekly number of cases is stable.
• St Martin: 2 350 suspected cases have been detected, an increase of 85 suspected cases since last week. The weekly number of cases is stable.

 

Since February 2016, 12 countries have reported evidence of person-to-person transmission of Zika virus, probably via a sexual route.

 

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

As of 22 September 2016, microcephaly and other central nervous system (CNS) malformations associated with Zika virus infection or suggestive of congenital infection have been reported by 21 countries or territories. Brazil reports the highest number of cases. Nineteen 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. 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. A detailed risk assessment was published on 30 August 2016. 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.

Countries and territories with reported confirmed autochthonous cases of Zika virus infection in the past three months, as of 23 September 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.

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.​

Countries or territories with reported confirmed autochthonous cases of Zika virus infection in the past three months, as of 23 September 2016

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