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Cape Verde - "Substantial" outbreak of Zika Virus - 7,000+ cases

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  • Cape Verde - "Substantial" outbreak of Zika Virus - 7,000+ cases



    Cape Verde

    Date: Mon 2 Nov 2015
    Source: Voice of America [in Portuguese, trans. Mod.TY, edited]
    http://www.voaportugues.com/content/...e/3033052.html


    The Cape Verde minister of health today [2 Nov 2015] confirmed the occurrence of a Zika virus outbreak, adding that since September [2015] there were nearly 1000 patients with this disease, which is transmitted the same way that dengue [viruses] are. The minister of health, Cristina Fontes Lima, and the director general of health, Tomas Valdez, confirmed the disease after tests of blood samples sent in October [2015] to the Institut Pasteur in Dakar were positive. Of the 64 samples, 17 were positive, according to Cristina Fontes Lima, who stated also that the tests ruled out dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, measles, and rubella, among other diseases.

    Tomas Valdez stated that "up until yesterday [1 Nov 2015], since September [2015] approximately 1000 cases with symptoms compatible with Zika virus infection were attended in the Agostinho Neto Hospital and the Praia Health Centers [Praia county]. Among the symptoms were red spots on the face, trunk and arms with strong itching, headache and low-grade fever."

    On average, the health services have attended 50-60 cases per day from this infection, having created a line for attention at the urgent care unit in the Agostinho Neto Hospital.

    Tomas Valdez explained that the infection has a benign course of around 7 days and does not present with complications that require hospitalization. He added that there is no vaccine, so treatment is symptomatic with paracetamol, and said that up to now the cases have been registered "essentially in Praia city".

    Zika virus is [relatively] new and the 1st transmission between humans was [reported] in the 1950s in Nigeria. In order to avoid infection, the authorities recommend elimination of catchments of stagnant water [in which the vector mosquitoes breed] and use of protection against mosquito bites.

    The director general of health added, however, that it is still not possible to relate this outbreak to the epidemic of the same virus currently going on in Brazil.

    --
    communicated by:
    GPHIN Alert


    [This is a substantial outbreak of Zika virus. Although the reference laboratory confirmed several of the infections as due to Zika virus (17 of 64 samples tested), one wonders if the 47 negative samples were not taken at the point in time that would permit diagnosis or if the febrile patients were infected with a different pathogen. One hopes that the Cape Verde Zika virus has been (or will be) isolated for genetic comparison with sequences from the outbreak in Brazil and the recent outbreaks in some of the Pacific Islands.
    Last edited by Gert van der Hoek; January 28, 2016, 04:35 PM.
    ?Addressing chronic disease is an issue of human rights ? that must be our call to arms"
    Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief The Lancet

    ~~~~ Twitter:@GertvanderHoek ~~~ GertvanderHoek@gmail.com ~~~

  • #2
    Translation Google

    Ministry of Health confirmed infection Zika virus in the municipality of Praia

    Created on 3/11/2015

    Result of laboratory tests performed on blood samples sent by the Ministry of Health to the Pasteur Institute in Dakar, it is confirmed that 17 of 64 samples it is ZIKA virus infection. The information was released this morning, November 2, the Minister of State and Health, Dr. Cristina Fontes Lima, in press conference.

    Thus, the Minister said following the 20 October last press conference in the Ministry of Health spoke about the existence of Skin and Itching eruption cases in Praia and sending samples for diagnostic for the Pasteur Institute Dakar, laboratory tests confirmed for the first time Zika virus infection in Cape Verde and dismissed the dengue infection, Chikungunya, Yellow fever, measles and rubella.

    The Health Ministry also said that the transmission of ZIKA virus is through the bite of Aedes aegypti, the same transmitting other diseases mentioned above and called on the municipal authorities and the entire population to work together to eliminate potential breeding sites mosquito vectors of disease.

    According to the Ministry of Health have been met until November 1st about 1000 cases with symptoms consistent with infection ZIKA virus, with red spots on the face, torso and arms with strong itching, headache, low fever and others. The disease has a benign course lasting about 7 days and usually have no complications and do not require hospitalization.

    There is no vaccine and treatment is symptomatic, so the authorities recommend that people who feel some symptoms should not take aspirin or anti-inflammatory, but can take paracetamol for fever and head for the nearest Health Centre itself.

    The whole population also recommended the strengthening of personal protective measures to avoid mosquito bites by using sleeve clothing long, pants, nets on the windows, use of repellent and smoking, as well as strengthen measures to combat mosquitoes by eliminating all containers with standing water that favor mosquito breeding.

    To date the cases are confined in Praia, and registered in some municipalities such as Santa Cruz and Santo Domingo in people with connection to the capital.

    The Zika virus was discovered since 1940, recently have been recorded cases of the disease in the African sub-region in western countries like the Ivory Coast, Senegal, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. This year is being registered an outbreak of the disease in the Brazilian Northeast, a region that has a strong connection with our country.

    The Ministry of Health ensures that you are doing your part and calls the collaboration of all in this fight because the major concern is with the mosquito breeding sites in and around the home.

    "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
    -Nelson Mandela

    Comment


    • #3
      Zika: Three islands. Four thousand cases in Cape Verde
      Friday, December 4, 2015

      Cape Verde registered 4,182 cases of Zika virus in the past two months. The disease is present at this time, on the islands of Santiago, Fogo and Maio. Information is advanced by the Ministry of Health that calls for enhanced prevention.

      According to the Ministry of Health, from 2 October, the city of Praia and the other municipalities of Santiago have the highest number of cases: more than 3000. After Santiago, appear the islands of May with registration of 332 cases and Fire, with 46. On the other hand, the Health Minister Cristina Fontes Lima said that cases are decreasing, but appeals to people who have had symptoms, including fever, red spots on the skin of the face and other parts of the body, headaches and itching , which are directed to health structures to be monitored.

      "There is no pressure situation. Just visit health facilities and the emergency room to see. Yesterday I was in Santa Catarina, there were 4 cases last week. On The Beach are 15 cases a day and we've had, "he says. For its part, the national director of health, Tom?s Valdez, especially draws attention to pregnant women who experience symptoms compatible with the Zika, to strengthen "further" the demand for health services. The Thomas Valdez recommendation appears in the records following "abnormal situations" which refer to relationship between the microcephaly and Zika. The children born with smaller head than normal and can "evolve into other symptomatology, for example delays in its intellectual content."

      The national director of health also points out the measures to combat the vector mosquitoes, in and around the house: constant exchange of plant pots of water, cover the containers with water and avoid open bottles and tires around the residences.
      ?Addressing chronic disease is an issue of human rights ? that must be our call to arms"
      Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief The Lancet

      ~~~~ Twitter:@GertvanderHoek ~~~ GertvanderHoek@gmail.com ~~~

      Comment


      • #4
        Source: http://www.who.int/csr/don/21-decemb...cape-verde/en/
        Zika virus infection ? Cape Verde
        Disease Outbreak News
        21 December 2015

        On 21 October 2015, the National IHR Focal Point of Cape Verde informed WHO of the country?s first reported epidemic of Zika virus infection.
        On 5 October 2015, health centres in Praia, Santiago Island began to report cases of cutaneous rash and pruritus with and apparently without fever. The earliest onset of symptoms occurred on 27 September. As of 14 October, a total of 165 cases had been reported.
        Blood samples from 64 cases were sent to the Institute Pasteur of Dakar, Senegal. A total of 17 samples tested positive for Zika virus ? 15 were IgM positive and 2 were positive by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The differential diagnosis included dengue, chikungunya, Rift Valley fever, West Nile fever, and yellow fever. Samples were also negative for measles and rubella.
        Between the end of September and 6 December, 4,744 suspected cases of Zika virus infection have been reported. Suspected cases were reported from several municipalities on Santiago Island (Praia, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, S?o Domingos and Tarrafal) as well as others islands, including Maio, Fogo and Boa Vista. The municipality of Praia reported 81% of the cases (3,845). So far, no neurological complications have been reported.
        Public health response

        The MoH has implemented several prevention and control measures, including
        • strengthening the surveillance system,
        • enhancing laboratory confirmation mechanisms,
        • improving case management,
        • conducting social mobilization and vector control activities,
        • developing a protocol with the Institute Pasteur of Dakar for assessing virus circulation and entomological risk amplification,
        • monitoring pregnant women for detection of microcephaly and neurological complications ? currently, about 30 cases among pregnant women are being followed.

        WHO is providing financial and technical support for vector control activities...



        Comment


        • #5
          Cape Verde authorities say the Zika virus outbreak is decreasing

          The newsroom, with ag?ncia26 / 01/2016

          Infection cases by Zika virus in the Cape Verde archipelago are "on your downswing", with the decrease in new infected registration, health authorities announced in Praia.


          Praia - infection cases by Zika virus, transmitted by the mosquito aedes aegipty in the Cape Verde archipelago are "on your downswing", with the decrease in infected new record, announced on Tuesday health authorities in Praia.

          According to the doctor Jorge Barreto, coordinator of infectious diseases, it can be said that the outbreak is approaching its resolution phase and the reported cases have been "much less".

          Cape Verde has registered these cases since September, but Jorge Barreto indicated that the last four weeks the average has been about 120 cases against 200 reported in the previous week nationwide.

          The doctor advanced that in relation to about 20 pregnant detected with symptoms of the virus, they are being followed and that until now was not registered any microcephaly condition in babies, since stressed, the first pregnancies infected women are planned for the month of February.

          Last week, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States issued a warning advising pregnant women to avoid traveling to 22 countries, including Cape Verde, suggesting that if they have to do it, "take action "to avoid being infected by Zika virus.

          Jorge Barreto explained that Cape Verde was placed at Level 2, which means, in his opinion, people who want to move to the country should adopt "special precautions", and level 3 is counseling people not to travel to countries affected by the epidemic.
          Casos de infe??o pelo v?rus Zika no arquip?lago cabo-verdiano est?o "na sua fase descendente", com a diminui??o do registo de novos infetados, anunciaram autoridades sanit?rias na cidade da Praia.
          ?Addressing chronic disease is an issue of human rights ? that must be our call to arms"
          Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief The Lancet

          ~~~~ Twitter:@GertvanderHoek ~~~ GertvanderHoek@gmail.com ~~~

          Comment


          • #6
            MOH Cape Verde: Link to update in PDF , jan 22, 2016

            - 7000+ cases
            ?Addressing chronic disease is an issue of human rights ? that must be our call to arms"
            Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief The Lancet

            ~~~~ Twitter:@GertvanderHoek ~~~ GertvanderHoek@gmail.com ~~~

            Comment


            • #7
              Zika outbreak in Cape Verde raises fear of possible spread to mainland Africa

              Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey 11 02 - 17:54

              Nearly 70 years after the Zika virus was detected in Africa, experts fear it could soon make a return to the continent.

              Their fear stems from a record 7,000 cases so far in Cape Verde, a volcanic Island 570 kilometres off the coast of Senegal.

              100 pregnant women are among the infected. Many of them will deliver their babies this month.

              Clinical Director of Cape Verde?s Central Hospital in Praia, Maria do Ceu says there is so far no evidence from scans of any microcephaly among the country?s infected expectant mothers.
              ...
              Although it is unclear how the virus got to Cape Verde, Beeching thinks it could have been imported from Brazil, a country with which Cape Verde has historical links.

              Regional health officials have told Reuters they are most worried about Zika being exported to Senegal or Guinea Bissau, which shares the same Portuguese heritage as Cape Verde.
              ...

              The recent outbreak of Zika may be heading back to its roots - Africa. This is the fear of many health experts following an outbreak in Cape Verde where over 7,000 cases have been recorded.
              "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
              -Nelson Mandela

              Comment

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