Zika Returns to Eight Countries in 2025

Following a record-setting number of Zika virus outbreaks in 2024, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) today reported eight counties have confirmed cases in 2025.

On February 18, 2025, the PAHO's data dashboard revealed that 333 Zika cases had already been confirmed in 2025.

Once again, the Federative Republic of Brazil, which has led this unfortunate list in the Region of the Americas for years, has 271 cases, followed by Bolivia, Columbia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru.

Since Zika was first detected in the continent of the Americas in May 2015, the PAHO has identified 52 countries and territories in the Americas that have reported cases and related fatalities.

The large Zika virus outbreaks that occurred during 2015 and 2016 in the Americas have subsided, but the Zika virus continues to be a severe health risk. The PAHO and other health agencies have confirmed that Zika infections can cause microcephaly, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and other central nervous system malformations in infected children.

While the PAHO says the best way to avoid these diseases is to avoid being bitten by an infected mosquito, an innovative vaccine candidate is progressing in clinical development.

Valneva SE announced today that phase 1 results for its Zika vaccine candidate are expected in the first half of 2025. This news indicates a Zika vaccine could become available in the future.

Before traveling to at-risk areas, check the U.S. CDC's Travelers' Health website for active Zika Travel Health Notices to determine if your destination is at risk of Zika virus transmission.