Over 30,000 Zika Cases Confirmed in the Americas

According to a report published online by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on December 15, 2022, there have been 31,451 cases in the Americas this year.

Furthermore, of all cases reported to the PAHO, 2,679 were lab-confirmed (8.5%).

This data indicates a cumulative incidence rate of 3.18 cases per 100,000 population.

The highest numbers of Zika cases in the Americas were reported in Brazil, with 29,117, and in Guatemala, with 1,572 cases.

The good news is that only four Zika-related fatalities have been reported so far in 2022.

Since its first detection in Brazil in March of 2014, local transmission of Zika has been confirmed in all countries and territories in the Americas, except for continental Chile, Uruguay, and Canada.

In the U.S., the last domestic Zika case was confirmed in 2017.

However, the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico continues to report probable Zika cases in 2022.

If you are pregnant, you should not travel to areas with Zika outbreaks, suggests the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

If you or your partner are trying to get pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about your travel plans, as the Zika virus can pass to others through sex, even months after infection. 

Unfortunately, no approved Zika vaccines are available as of December 16, 2022.

Additional Zika outbreak news is posted at ZikeNews.com.