Chikungunya in the Caribbean/Americas Region (Update)

06 Oct 2014

The outbreak of chikungunya virus infection in various Caribbean islands and the Americas is ongoing; WHO/PAHO has published further epidemiological data on countries reporting autochthonous transmission.

(Via Pan American Health Organisation - accessed 06/10/14)

Non-Latin Caribbean

Sint Maarten, 360 confirmed cases.
Guyana, 76 confirmed cases.
British Virgin Islands, 20 confirmed cases.
US Virgin Islands, 832 suspected, 52 confirmed cases.
Bahamas, 79 confirmed cases.
Barbados, 77 suspected, 3 confirmed cases.
Curacao, 607 suspected cases, 58 confirmed.
Dominica, 3559 suspected cases, 141 confirmed cases.
Anguilla, 38 confirmed cases.
Antigua and Barbuda, 679 suspected, 18 confirmed cases.
Aruba, 85 suspected, 19 confirmed cases.
Jamaica, 213 suspected cases, 33 confirmed.
St Kitts and Nevis, 31 suspected cases, 28 confirmed cases.
St Lucia, 214 suspected cases, 120 confirmed cases.
St Vincent and the Grenadines, 329 suspected cases, 67 confirmed cases.
Suriname, 594 confirmed cases.
Trinidad and Tobago, 43 confirmed cases.
Turks and Caicos, 10 confirmed cases.
Cayman Islands, one confirmed case.
Grenada, 5 confirmed cases.

Central America

Costa Rica, one confirmed case.
El Salvador, 16 389 suspected cases, 54 confirmed cases.
Guatemala, 8 confirmed cases.
Panama, 10 confirmed cases.

Latin Caribbean

Dominican Republic, 486 306 suspected, 84 confirmed.
French Guiana, 2900 suspected, 3268 confirmed cases.
Guadeloupe, 78 120 suspected, 430 confirmed cases.
Haiti, 64 695 suspected, 14 confirmed cases.
Martinique, 64 250 suspected, 1515 confirmed cases.
Puerto Rico, 8036 suspected cases, 2305 confirmed cases.
Saint Barthelemy (St Barts), 985 suspected, 142 confirmed cases.
Saint Martin, 4170 suspected, 793 confirmed cases.

Andean Area

Colombia, 6092 suspected cases, 83 confirmed cases.
Venezuela, 841suspected cases, 328 confirmed cases.

South America

Brazil, 16 confirmed cases.

North America

United States of America, 11 confirmed cases.

Advice for Travellers

Avoidance of mosquito bites, particularly during daylight hours, by covering up with clothing, the use of bite avoidance measures such as repellent and bed nets is advised. Elimination of breeding sites around hotel rooms/houses is advised for longer term stays.

Travellers intending to donate blood on their return from a chikungunya virus risk area may wish to speak with a blood transfusion advisor before attending to give blood. This is because visitors to chikungunya virus risk areas must wait 4 weeks after their return before donating. Additionally, if they have displayed any symptoms of chikungunya virus infection, they must wait 6 months before donating.