Background
On February 1, 2016 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika virus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. This designation is reserved for public health crises which will have global reach. The first case of Zika virus in Jamaica was confirmed on January 29, 2016.
Cases of Zika virus in Jamaica
As at October 14, 2016, the Ministry of Health received eight thousand five hundred and eighty one (8, 581) notifications for the zika virus of which six thousand five hundred and seventy one (6,571) or seventy six percent (76%) fit the case definition for Zika and were classified as “Suspected Zika”.
Geographic spread
There were one hundred and twenty two (122) confirmed cases. The confirmed cases were reported from the parishes of St Catherine (16), St Thomas (13), Clarendon (8), St. Mary (5), Kingston & St. Andrew (46), Trelawny (2), St. James (12), Manchester (5), St. Ann (5), Portland (5), Westmoreland (1) and four (4) cases with unknown addresses.
Zika and Pregnancy
There were five hundred and eighty five (585) cases of suspected Zika virus infection in pregnant women reported. Forty nine (49) of these suspected cases have tested positive.
Neurological Complications of Zika Virus Infection
There were one hundred and thirty five (135) notifications for Guillain Barre (paralysis) Syndrome (GBS); thirty three (33) of these fit the case definition for GBS based on clinical signs, symptoms and investigation results and were deemed suspected cases. Three (3) were zika positive.