Tiny Barbados Leads All Zika Detections

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) updated its Arboviral situation summary today with data indicating that a coral island in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies was confronted with an extensive Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak last year.

Zika transmission can occur in most areas where the mosquito Aedes aegypti is found. This means there is the potential for transmission throughout much of the Caribbean Islands, says the PAHO.

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

The most significant number of Zika cases in the Region was reported by Brazil, with 34,176.

But on a cumulative incidence per 100,000 population basis. Barbados, with about 280,000 residents, led the Region at 48.

Brazil's rate was just 16, based on a population of 214 million.

To alert international visitors of their potential ZIKV health risk when visiting Barbados, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an Alert - Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions. However, the CDC withdrew this Alert on June 30, 2021.

The CDC currently says, 'We do not have accurate information on the current level of risk.'

However, both Canada and the United Kingdom (UK) had enough information to publish ZIKV advice for people visiting Barbados last year.

The UK represented about 50% of all international visitors in 2022.

Because Zika is a cause of severe congenital disabilities, such as microcephaly, the CDC, Canada, and the UK recommend pregnant women and couples trying to become pregnant within the next few months speak with their healthcare providers to carefully consider the risks and possible consequences of travel to areas with risk of Zika.

Furthermore, if a woman is pregnant, she should not visit areas with ZIKV outbreaks, says the CDC.

Furthermore, these countries have not approved a Zika-prevention vaccine as of January 28, 2023.