Chikungunya outbreak - The Caribbean, 2013 (ECDC/CDTR, February 7 2014, edited)

[Giuseppe]

[Source: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), full PDF document: (LINK). Edited.]


COMMUNICABLE DISEASE THREATS REPORT

Week 6, 2-8 February 2014

(...)


Chikungunya outbreak - The Caribbean, 2013

Opening date: 9 December 2013 - Latest update: 31 January 2014


Epidemiological summary

Cases reported as of 2 February 2014:

• Virgin Islands (UK), 6 confirmed cases;
• Saint Martin (FR), 601 confirmed cases;
• Sint Maarten (NL), 60 confirmed cases;
• Martinique, 390 confirmed and 128 probable cases;
• Saint Barth?lemy, 83 confirmed and probable cases;
• Guadeloupe, 175 confirmed and probable cases;
• Dominica, 1 confirmed case (imported), 3 autochthonous cases (reported by media);
• French Guyana, 4 confirmed cases, all of which are imported;
• One imported confirmed case on the Island of Anguilla probably originating from Saint Martin;
• One imported case in Aruba originating from Sint Maarten.

(?)


ECDC assessment

Epidemiological data indicate that the outbreak, that started in Saint Martin (FR), is expanding. An increasing number of cases has been observed from most of the affected areas. The vector is endemic in the regions, where it also transmits dengue virus.

Vigilance is recommended for the occurrence of imported cases of chikungunya in tourists returning to the EU from the Caribbean, including awareness among clinicians, travel clinics and blood safety authorities.


Actions

ECDC published a rapid risk assessment on 12 December 2013 and an epidemiological update on 10 January 2014.

(?)


-
-------