WHO Zika situation report February 12

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Zika situation report

12 February 2016

http://www.who.int/emergencies/zika-virus/situation-report/12-february-2016/en/

 

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Zika and potential complications

• Read the full situation report
  pdf, 628kb

Summary

• WHO has called for a coordinated and multisectoral response through an inter-agency Strategic Response Framework focusing on response, surveillance and research.
• 39 countries have reported locally acquired circulation of the virus since January 2007. Geographical distribution of the virus has steadily expanded.
• Six countries (Brazil, French Polynesia, El Salvador, Venezuela, Colombia and Suriname) have reported an increase in the incidence of cases of microcephaly and/or Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in conjunction with an outbreak of the Zika virus. Puerto Rico and Martinique have reported cases of GBS associated with Zika virus infection without an increase of incidence. No scientific evidence to date confirms a link between Zika virus and microcephaly or GBS.
• Women’s reproductive health has been thrust into the limelight with the spread of the Zika virus. The latest evidence suggests that Zika virus infection during pregnancy may be linked to microcephaly in newborn babies.
• WHO advice on travel to Zika-affected countries includes advice for pregnant women as well as women who are trying to become pregnant and their sexual partners.

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Full report

http://www.who.int/entity/emergencies/zika-virus/situation-report/who-zika-situation-report-12-02-2016.pdf?ua=1

 

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Incidence of Microcephaly

 On 30 January 2016, the Ministry of Health of Brazil reported 4783 cases of microcephaly and/or central nervous system (CNS) malformation, including 76 deaths since January 2015.

 Authorities in Brazil have concluded the investigation into 1113 of the reported cases: 709 cases have been discarded, 404 confirmed and 3670 remain under investigation.

 Of the confirmed cases, 387 were compatible with a congenital infection and 17, all from the Northeast Region, had confirmation of Zika virus infection.

 Of 76 deaths due to congenital malformations, Zika virus was identified in foetal tissue in five cases, all from the Northeast Region of Brazil. Robust investigations and research are planned to better understand the potential link with Zika virus.

 A review of birth data from the 2013 – 2-14 Zika virus outbreak in French Polynesia indicated that the number of congenital abnormalities of the CNS in children born between March 2014 and May 2015 was well above average.

 Zika virus infection was confirmed in a baby born with microcephaly in Hawaii1 and in the foetus of a baby in Slovenia after pregnancy termination. No autochthonous transmission of Zika virus has been reported in Hawaii or Slovenia.

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Incidence of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)

 In the context of the Zika virus outbreak, Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Suriname and Venezuela have reported an increase of GBS.

 In July 2015 the state of Bahia in Brazil reported 42 cases of GBS, 26 of them in patients with a history of symptoms consistent with Zika virus infection. In November 2015 seven patients presenting GBS were laboratory confirmed for Zika virus infection. In 2015, a 19% increase in GBS cases was reported in comparison to the previous year.

 To date, none of the reported GBS cases in Colombia have been laboratory confirmed for Zika virus infection or other causes.

 Since December 2015 El Salvador recorded 46 GBS cases, including two deaths. None of these cases have been laboratory confirmed for Zika virus infection or other causes.

 In Suriname Zika virus infection was confirmed in two of the ten GBS cases reported in 2015.

 In January 2016, 252 GBS cases with a spatiotemporal association to Zika virus were reported in Venezuela. Preliminary analysis of the 66 GBS cases in Zulia state indicates a clinical history consistent with Zika virus infection. Zika virus infection was confirmed for three of the GBS cases, including one fatal case.

 Martinique has reported two GBS cases where Zika infection has also been confirmed; Puerto Rico has reported one case GBS case. Neither of these occurrences constitute an increase of incidence compared to the previous year.

 In French Polynesia, all 42 GBS cases identified during the 2013 – 2014 Zika virus outbreak tested positive for dengue and Zika virus infection.

 The cause of the increase in GBS incidence observed in Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador and Suriname remains unknown, especially as dengue, chikungunya and Zika virus have all been circulating simultaneously in the Americas. Investigations to determine the cause of infection are ongoing in countries with increased incidence of GBS.

1 http://governor.hawaii.gov/newsroom/doh-news-release-hawaii-department-of-health-receives-confirmation-of-zika-infection-in-babyborn-with-microcephaly/