CHIKUNGUNYA (14): CARIBBEAN *************************** A ProMED-mail post ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases In this update: [1] WHO/PAHO update [2] Aruba (suspected) ****** [1] WHO/PAHO update Date: Fri 31 Jan 2014 Source: WHO/PAHO [edited] Number of reported cases of chikungunya fever in the Americas, by country or territory 2014 to epidemiological week 5 (updated 31 Jan 2014) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Country / week / no. confirmed cases French Guiana / 5 / 4 Guadeloupe / 5 / 119 Martinique / 5 / 364 St Barthelemy / 5 / 56 St Martin / 5 / 476 Dominica / 5 / 4 St Maarten / 3 / 10 Virgin Islands (UK) / 5 / 5 -- communicated by: Roland Hubner Superior Health Council Brussels Belgium [The report above addresses cases in the entire affected localities. It presents only numbers of confirmed cases, and not suspected cases, so the actual numbers of chikungunya virus infections are doubtless higher than those presented above. Maps Caribbean: St Martin/St Maarten: St Barthelemy: Guadeloupe: Martinique: Guyana: Dominica: British Virgin Islands: . - Mod.TY] ****** [2] Aruba (suspected) Date: Fri 24 Jan 2014 Source: Amigoe [edited] Public Health Directorate is extremely alert with the chikungunya virus having spread rapidly to 8 islands. For the 1st time, 3 questionable cases have been reported in Aruba. However, these have not been confirmed yet. Blood samples for testing have been taken and sent to laboratories in the Netherlands for analysis. We will receive the results next week, [week of 27 Jan 2014] official of the Public Health Directorate, Eugene Maduro, said during the press conference organized this morning [24 Jan 2014] to inform everyone on the state of affairs regarding chikungunya and dengue. Both viruses are carried by the _Aedes aegypti _ mosquito. Meanwhile one person infected with the chikungunya-virus has died, Maduro said. This person lived on St Maarten. The 3 questionable cases on Aruba had been on holiday on St Maarten. The persons were begged to isolate themselves. Sleep under a mosquito net and preferably keep off the streets as much as possible, Maduro said. The yellow fever and Mosquito Control [unit] meanwhile rushed to the residences of these persons to remove all mosquitoes and [their] breeding grounds. The largest concern of the Public Health Directorate is it becoming a local epidemic as is the case on St Maarten, where already 780 people reported possible infection. If these 3 questionable cases on Aruba are indeed infected with chikungunya [virus], they are so-called imported cases. They were infected elsewhere. Any indication of a local epidemic and we will be even worse off [and] lose control. We must go all out to prevent this. [byline: Jackeliene Geeve] -- communicated by: Roland Hubner Superior Health Council Brussels Belgium [This situation is another illustration of the risk that inter-island travel presents for dissemination of chikungunya virus in the region. If any or all 3 of these imported cases are confirmed as chikungunya virus infections, one hopes that the rapid response by the Aruba health authorities has prevented ongoing transmission of the virus. Maps showing the location of Aruba can be accessed at and , and of St Martin/St Maarten at and . - Mod.TY] [See Also: Chikungunya (11): Caribbean 20140202.2248906 Chikungunya (10): Caribbean 20140129.2240929 Chikungunya (09): Caribbean 20140126.2231647 Chikungunya (08): Caribbean (St Maarten) 20140122.2224929 Chikungunya (06): Caribbean, corr 20140121.2219548 Chikungunya (07): Caribbean 20140120.2184116 Chikungunya (06): Caribbean 20140118.2181292 Chikungunya (05): Caribbean (British Virgin Islands) 20140114.2172714 Chikungunya (03): Caribbean 20140111.2165563 Chikungunya (02): Caribbean 20140105.2153134 Chikungunya (01): Caribbean 20140102.2148245] .................................................ty/mj/sh
Posted on: Wed, 05 Feb 2014 22:13:31 +0000
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