Zika virus infection reported on Easter Island
The Chilean Ministry of Health has reported a confirmed case of Zika virus (ZIKV) on the territory located in the Pacific Ocean known as Rapa Nui or Easter Island in the Pacific, according to a Prense Libre report (computer translated).
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This is the first report of locally acquired ZIKAV infection in the Americas, according to the European Centre of Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC).
The news report also says there are 40 other “suspected” cases showing the symptoms of Zika.
The existence of cases of Zika alerted the Chilean authorities of a possible outbreak of dengue , so they ” took all measures” to inform and prevent the two diseases. “The system was strengthened surveillance through monitoring and study of cases of people with fever and red spots on the body, two symptoms of Zika virus disease , which is added conjunctivitis”, the report states.
Elsewhere in the Pacific, Zika virus infections in French Polynesia and New Caledonia updates from the ECDC are as follows:
In French Polynesia, As of 21 February there were more than 8,500 suspected cases. There have been 74 cases of neurological and auto-immune complications of which 41 cases were Guillain-Barré syndrome. The outbreak is declining in the majority of the islands.
In New Caledonia, an additional 31 autochthonous cases of Zika virus (ZIKAV) infection were reported during the past week. As of 5 March 2014, 171 confirmed cases have been reported, of which 139 were autochthonous. There are no reports of neurological complications.
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