Lifestyle

7 Cases of Chikungunya confirmed in Cayman Islands

Archive
2 min read
  • Since the last update on 15 September 2014, 10 new cases were placed under investigation during the week of 16- 22 September 2014. The blood samples were sent for testing at Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad on 22 September 2014.
  • Of the five samples sent last week, four results were received from the Caribbean Public Health Agency CARPHA. Three tested negative, and one positive. The results of a fifth case remain pending.
  • The patient who tested positive (16- 22 September) is a resident of George Town, with a travel history to Jamaica. The onset of symptoms took place on 13 September. Therefore the patient is no longer considered infectious as it has been more than a week. The chikungunya virus is transmitted by mosquitoes biting infected persons during the first week of illness.
  • Total number of cases investigated for chikungunya since 25 June 2014 is 46
  • The total results received thus far are 35. Seven have come back positive, 26 negative and two inconclusive. Results of 10 blood samples sent on 22 September are awaited and one from the period 9 - 15 September.
  • Of the seven confirmed cases, six have reported a travel history to countries having an outbreak, (two to Dominican Republic, two to Guyana, two to Jamaica). One had no travel history, an indication that the infection was acquired locally.
  1. Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social. Boletín de Prensa No 250 de 2014; 10.09.2014. Confirmados primeros cuatro casos de chikunguña en Bolívar [In Spanish]. [Accessed 17 September 2014]. Available at: http://www.minsalud.gov.co/Paginas/Confirmados-primeros-cuatro-casos-chikungu%C3%B1a-en-Bolivar.aspx
  2. Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/World Health Organization. Cases of chikungunya fever in the Americas, by country or territory 2013-2014. Epidemiological Week 37 (updated 12 September, 2014). [Accessed 17 September 2014]. Available at: http://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_topics&view=
  3. Vega-Rua A, Zouache K, Girod R et al. High vector competence of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus from ten American countries as a crucial factor of the spread of Chikungunya. Journal of Virology. 2014 Jun; 88(11): 6294-306.
  4. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Rapid Risk assessment. Chikungunya outbreak in Caribbean region. 25 June 2014. [Accessed 17 September 2014]. Available at: http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications/Publications/chikungunya-caribbean-june-2014-risk-assessment.pdf
  5. World Health Organization, Chikungunya fact sheet. March 2014. [Accessed 17 September 2014]. Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs327/en/
  6. Public Health England. Chikungunya: epidemiology in England, Wales and Northern Ireland 10 July 2014. [Accessed 17 September 2014]. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/chikungunya-epidemiology-in-england-wales-and-northern-ireland
  7. Public Health England Travel and Migrant Health Section and Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory. 17 September 2014 personal communication.

Published September 24, 2014

Join the discussion — please keep to our Community Guidelines.