Press Release Ministry of Public Health, Ecuador
With the confirmation of the circulation of the virus Zika May 15, 2015 in northeastern Brazil and 16 October in Colombia, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) urged Member States to establish and maintain the capacity to detect and confirm cases of Zika virus infection.
The Ministry of Public of Ecuador (MSP) Health, through the National Epidemiological Surveillance confirms that until January 9, 2016 have been reported two (2) first cases ratified by laboratory Zika virus infected. Patients who are living in Quito Ecuador and presented rash (rash), fever, itching, headache, generalized joint pain, conjunctival hyperemia. As part of epidemiological surveillance, blood samples were sent to the National Institute of Public Health Research (INSPI) were taken. Blood for dengue and chikungunya was processed according to the current protocol with negative results for both and subsequent positive for Zika.
Epidemiological research confirms the presence of imported cases of Zika in Ecuador. Patients traveled because of the holidays this year to the city of Neiva (Huila department capital, endemic area of dengue and chikungunya, with 408 confirmed cases of Zika) remaining in Colombia of December 22, 2015 to 5 January 2016. They are currently being treated in the city of Quito where there is no presence of the vector (mosquito Aedes aegypti).
Faced with suspected cases of Zika in areas where the presence of the vector has intensified actions epidemiological surveillance and vector control. For this reason the MSP strengthened vector control actions in the winter season that is beginning in the country. Promoting behavioral changes aimed at the destruction of farms and self-protection at individual, household and community levels increased.
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With the confirmation of the circulation of the virus Zika May 15, 2015 in northeastern Brazil and 16 October in Colombia, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) urged Member States to establish and maintain the capacity to detect and confirm cases of Zika virus infection.
The Ministry of Public of Ecuador (MSP) Health, through the National Epidemiological Surveillance confirms that until January 9, 2016 have been reported two (2) first cases ratified by laboratory Zika virus infected. Patients who are living in Quito Ecuador and presented rash (rash), fever, itching, headache, generalized joint pain, conjunctival hyperemia. As part of epidemiological surveillance, blood samples were sent to the National Institute of Public Health Research (INSPI) were taken. Blood for dengue and chikungunya was processed according to the current protocol with negative results for both and subsequent positive for Zika.
Epidemiological research confirms the presence of imported cases of Zika in Ecuador. Patients traveled because of the holidays this year to the city of Neiva (Huila department capital, endemic area of dengue and chikungunya, with 408 confirmed cases of Zika) remaining in Colombia of December 22, 2015 to 5 January 2016. They are currently being treated in the city of Quito where there is no presence of the vector (mosquito Aedes aegypti).
Faced with suspected cases of Zika in areas where the presence of the vector has intensified actions epidemiological surveillance and vector control. For this reason the MSP strengthened vector control actions in the winter season that is beginning in the country. Promoting behavioral changes aimed at the destruction of farms and self-protection at individual, household and community levels increased.
MORE
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