Chikungunya in the Caribbean/Americas (Update)
09 Feb 2015
The outbreak of chikungunya virus infection in various Caribbean islands and the Americas is ongoing; WHO/PAHO has published further epidemiological data on countries reporting autochthonous transmission.
(Via Pan American Health Organisation - accessed 09/02/15)
Non-Latin Caribbean
- Sint Maarten, 470 confirmed cases.
- Guyana, 5310 suspected cases, 105 confirmed.
- US Virgin Islands, 1321 suspected cases, 276 confirmed.
- UK Virgin Islands, 347 suspected cases, 47 confirmed cases.
- Bahamas, 95 confirmed cases.
- Barbados, 1742 suspected cases, 121 confirmed.
- Curacao, 1838 suspected cases, 835 confirmed.
- Dominica, 3590 suspected cases, 173 confirmed.
- Anguilla, 61 suspected cases, 52 confirmed.
- Antigua and Barbuda, 1426 suspected cases, 18 confirmed.
- Aruba, 740 suspected cases, 205 confirmed.
- Jamaica, 1643 suspected cases, 87 confirmed.
- Montserrat, 105 suspected cases, 14 confirmed.
- St Kitts and Nevis, 432 suspected cases, 27 confirmed.
- St Lucia, 645 suspected cases, 238 confirmed.
- St Vincent and the Grenadines, 1220 suspected cases, 173 confirmed.
- Suriname, 1210 confirmed cases.
- Trinidad and Tobago, 303 confirmed cases.
- Turks and Caicos, 19 confirmed cases.
- Cayman Islands, 170 suspected cases, 44 confirmed.
- Grenada, 3070 suspected cases, 26 confirmed.
Central America
- Belize, 3 confirmed cases.
- Costa Rica, 100 confirmed.
- El Salvador, 137 498 suspected cases, 157 confirmed.
- Guatemala, 27 343 suspected cases, 198 confirmed.
- Honduras, 5338 suspected cases, 9 confirmed.
- Nicaragua, 2727 suspected cases, 1918 confirmed.
- Panama, 22 confirmed cases.
Latin Caribbean
- Dominican Republic, 539 099 suspected, 84 confirmed.
- French Guiana, 11 259 suspected, 5020 confirmed.
- Guadeloupe, 81 200 suspected, 430 confirmed.
- Haiti, 64 695 suspected, 14 confirmed.
- Martinique, 72 200 suspected, 1515 confirmed.
- Puerto Rico, 23 280 suspected cases, 4301 confirmed.
- Saint Barthelemy (St Barts), 1665 suspected, 142 confirmed.
- Saint Martin, 5280 suspected, 793 confirmed.
Andean Area
- Colombia, 142 196 suspected cases, 1 236 confirmed.
- Ecuador, 66 confirmed cases.
- Venezuela, 34 642 reported cases, 2303 confirmed.
South America
- Brazil, 705 suspected cases, 2196 confirmed.
- Paraguay, one confirmed case.
North America
- United States of America, 11 confirmed cases.
- Mexico, 198 confirmed cases.
Advice for Travellers
Avoidance of mosquito bites, particularly during daylight hours, by covering up with clothing, the use of bite avoidance measures such as repellent and bed nets is advised. Elimination of breeding sites around hotel rooms/houses is advised for longer term stays.
Travellers intending to donate blood on their return from a chikungunya virus risk area may wish to speak with a blood transfusion advisor before attending to give blood. This is because visitors to chikungunya virus risk areas must wait 4 weeks after their return before donating. Additionally, if they have displayed any symptoms of chikungunya virus infection, they must wait 6 months before donating.