Zika Continues Infecting Americas

Since the World Health Organization declared a public health emergency in 2016, the Zika virus (ZIKV) has continued to spread throughout the Region of the Americas.

Like other arboviral diseases, ZIKV infected people and caused fatalities in various countries last year. 

In 2022, a total of 37,869 Zika cases were reported in 15 out of 52 countries and territories in the Americas.

Of all reported cases, a cumulative incidence rate of 3.81 cases per 100,000 population was calculated.

Only two Zika-related deaths were reported for 2022, with a 0.005 % case fatality rate.

Since its first detection in Brazil in March 2014, local transmission of Zika has been confirmed in various countries in the Region in 2022.

As of January 26, 2023, the highest numbers of Zika cases in the Region were reported in the following countries:

• Brazil, with 34,176 cases ( 90.2 %),
• Guatemala 1,815 cases ( 4.8 %),
• Paraguay 1,094 cases ( 2.9 %),
• Bolivia 173 cases ( 0.5 %), and
• El Salvador 171 cases ( 0.5 %).

From an incidence rate perspective, Barbados led all other countries in the Region, with Puerto Rico reporting the most Zika cases in the USA.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there is no current local transmission of the Zika virus in the continental U.S., but Puerto Rico has recently reported cases.

The CDC and the U.K. say if a woman is pregnant, she should not visit areas with Zika outbreaks.

Furthermore, if you or your partner are trying to get pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about your travel plans.

The PAHO/WHO continues recommending various tactics to avoid the mosquitoes that spread ZIKV while Zika virus vaccine candidates complete late-stage clinical research.

Source: Data entered into the Health Information Platform for The Americas (PLISA, PAHO / WHO) by the Ministries and Institutes of Health of the countries and territories of the Region. Available at: https://www.paho.org/plisa.