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WHO confirms Zika virus transmission spreads to Colombia
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WHO officials confirmed the spread of Zika virus in Colombia and reported additional cases in Brazil.
As of Oct. 16, public health officials from the Bolívar department in Colombia confirmed that nine out of 98 samples tested positive for Zika virus. These are the country’s first reported cases.
Zika virus transmission also was detected in 14 Brazilian states, including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Norte, as of Oct. 8. Autochthonous transmission previously occurred in northeastern Brazil in May.
The first reported case of Zika virus in the Americas occurred in Chile in February 2014, and new infections emerged from the region until June 2014, according to WHO. Recent outbreaks in other countries indicate the virus may spread to regions where the Aedes vector is found.
Mosquito vector bites transmit the Zika virus, and it can cause a mild fever, rash, headaches, arthralgia, myalgia, asthenia and nonpurulent conjunctivitis, which usually lasts for 2 to 7 days. Once bitten, symptoms generally develop in 3 to 12 days; however, 25% of patients may be asymptomatic.
Due to the increased transmission of Zika virus, officials from the Pan American Health Organization and WHO recommend that member states in the affected regions monitor cases of Zika virus infection and prepare all levels of health services for potential outbreaks. They also recommend developing a public communications strategy to reduce transmission, particularly in regions where the vector exists.