2013–2014 Zika virus outbreaks in Oceania
This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. (February 2016) |
In October 2013, there was an outbreak of
Epidemiology
French Polynesia
The first Zika outbreak started in French Polynesia in October 2013, with cases reported in the
In December 2013, an American traveler to Mo'orea was diagnosed with Zika virus infection in New York after an 11-day history of symptoms,[8] becoming the first American tourist to be diagnosed with Zika.[9] A Japanese tourist returning to Japan was also diagnosed with Zika virus infection by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases after visiting Bora Bora, becoming the first imported case of Zika fever in Japan.[10]
By February 2014, it was estimated that more than 29,000 people with Zika-like symptoms had sought medical care, roughly 11.5% of the population,[11] with 8,503 suspected cases.[7] Of 746 samples tested at the Institut Louis-Malardé in Tahiti by 7 February, 396 (53.1%) were confirmed as containing the Zika virus by RT-PCR. Two further cases of Zika virus infection were imported into Japan,[12] and on 25 February, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health reported that a traveler returning to Norway from Tahiti was confirmed to have a Zika virus infection.[7]
By March 2014, the outbreak was declining in the majority of the islands,[7] and by October the outbreak had abated. A total of 8,723 suspected cases of Zika virus infection were reported, as well as more than 30,000 estimated clinical visits and medical consultations due to concerns about Zika.[1] The true number of Zika cases was estimated at more than 30,000.[5]
New Caledonia
Zika spread westwards from French Polynesia to New Caledonia, where imported cases from French Polynesia were reported from November 2013 onwards. The first indigenous case was confirmed in January 2014 by the Pasteur Institute.[1][13] On 10 February, there were 64 reported cases of Zika in the communities of Greater Nouméa, Dumbéa, and Ouvéa, of which 30 were imported from French Polynesia. By 26 February 2014, there were 140 confirmed cases of Zika in New Caledonia, including 32 imported cases.[7] The outbreak peaked in April, and by 17 September, the number of confirmed cases had gone up to 1,400, of which 35 were imported. During the same time period, there were also outbreaks of chikungunya fever and dengue fever.[1]
Cook Islands
In February 2014, an outbreak of Zika was reported in the
Easter Island
By March 2014, there were one confirmed and 40 suspected cases of Zika virus infection on Easter Island. The Zika virus was suspected to have been carried to the island by a tourist from French Polynesia during the annual Tapati festival, held between January and February.[2] Chilean health authorities decided against issuing a health alert, saying that the outbreak had been contained and was under control, and advised travelers to take precautions against mosquito bites.[16] By the end of the year, 173 cases of Zika had been reported, but all of the cases were described as "mild".[17]
On 24 September 2014, a
Transmission
Zika is a
People infected with the Zika virus traveling to other Pacific islands could transmit the disease to local mosquitoes that bit them. The infected mosquitoes could then go on to spread Zika among the local mosquito population, and thence cause outbreaks of Zika among local people.[19][20]
A study conducted between November 2013 and February 2014 in French Polynesia found that 2.8% of blood donors tested positive for the Zika virus, of which 3% were asymptomatic at the time of blood donation. 11 of the infected donors studied subsequently reported symptoms of Zika virus infection within 10 days.[11] This indicated a potential risk of transmission of the Zika virus through blood transfusions, but there are no confirmed cases of this occurring.[21] Nucleic acid testing of blood donors was implemented in French Polynesia from 13 January 2014 onwards to prevent unintended transmission of the Zika virus.[11]
Possible links to neurological syndromes, infant microcephaly and other disorders
A concurrent increase in
On 24 November 2015, health authorities in French Polynesia reported that there had been an unusual increase in the number of cases of
The two cases of Zika virus infection imported into Japan from French Polynesia in February 2014 showed signs of leukopenia (decreased levels of white blood cells) and moderate thrombocytopenia (decreased levels of platelets).[12]
Aftermath
Brazilian researchers have suggested that a traveler infected with the Zika virus arrived in Brazil from French Polynesia, leading to the ongoing Zika virus outbreak that began in 2015. This may have occurred during the 2014 FIFA World Cup tournament,[24] or shortly after, based on phylogenetic DNA analysis of the virus. French researchers have speculated that the virus arrived in August 2014, when canoeing teams from French Polynesia, New Caledonia, the Cook Islands and Easter Island attended the Va'a World Sprint Championships in Rio de Janeiro.[2][25][26]
Between 1 January and 20 May 2015, a further 82 confirmed cases of Zika were reported in New Caledonia, including ten imported cases.[21]
In early 2015, two cases of Zika virus infection were reported in travelers returning to Italy from French Polynesia.[5]
In February 2015, an outbreak of Zika began in the Solomon Islands. The Ministry of Health and Medical Services reported the first laboratory confirmation of Zika virus infection on 12 March 2015, and by 3 May 302 cases of Zika had been reported, with the number of new cases steadily decreasing.[21]
On 27 April 2015, the Ministry of Health of Vanuatu announced that blood samples collected prior to Cyclone Pam in March were confirmed to contain the Zika virus. The Ministry of Health advised people to consult medical aid if they experienced a high fever with no obvious cause, and recommended communities clean up places where mosquitoes could lay eggs.[27] The introduction of the Zika virus was thought to be linked to frequent travel between New Caledonia and Vanuatu.[2]
Local transmission of the Zika virus by mosquitoes has been reported in the Polynesian islands of American Samoa, Samoa, and Tonga since November 2015.[28] Cases of Zika virus infection have subsequently been confirmed in American Samoa,[29] Samoa,[30] Tonga,[31] and the Marshall Islands.[32]
See also
References
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- ^ ISBN 9781498806978. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ^ Mallet, Dr. Henri-Pierre (27 October 2013). "ZIKA VIRUS - FRENCH POLYNESIA". ProMED-mail. Papeete: International Society for Infectious Diseases. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f "Communicable Disease Threats Report" (PDF). Stockholm: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. 1 March 2014. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 January 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
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- ^ Maron, Dina Fine (8 October 2015). "Zika Disease: Another Reason to Hate Mosquitoes". Scientific American. Washington, D.C.: Macmillan Publishers. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
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- ^ "ZIKA VIRUS - PACIFIC (03): NEW CALEDONIA". ProMED-mail. International Society for Infectious Diseases. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
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- ^ "Dengue Fever, Zika and Chikungunya". Auckland Regional Public Health Service. 12 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
- ^ Schwan, Katharina (7 March 2014). "First Case of Zika Virus reported on Easter Island". The Disease Daily. HealthMap. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
- ^ Esposito, Anthony (3 February 2016). "Mainland Chile confirms first three cases of Zika virus". Reuters. Santiago. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
- ^ "ZIKA VIRUS - PACIFIC (15): CHILE (EASTER ISLAND) ex TAHITI". ProMED-mail. International Society for Infectious Diseases. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- ^ "Where the mosquito-borne Zika virus is spreading". News.com.au. Reuters, News Corp Australia. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
Somebody would travel to say Brazil, get Zika virus there and come back to Cairns, or a South American traveller who's visiting Australia is infected with Zika virus. If they're bitten by the mosquitoes over here, the mosquitoes get infected and can potentially transmit the virus.
- ^ Silver, Marc (5 February 2016). "Mapping Zika: From A Monkey In Uganda To A Growing Global Concern". NPR. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
It was suspected that mosquitoes had brought the disease to Yap Island. But Vasilakis says a previously infected human visitor could have been bitten by local mosquitoes, which then spread the virus.
- ^ a b c "Zika virus infection outbreak, Brazil and the Pacific region" (PDF). Stockholm: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. 25 May 2015. pp. 4–5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
- ^ a b "Microcephaly in Brazil potentially linked to the Zika virus epidemic" (PDF). Stockholm: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. 24 November 2015. pp. 4–5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
- ^ a b McNeil Jr., Donald G; Saint Louis, Catherine; St. Fleur, Nicholas (3 February 2016). "Short Answers to Hard Questions About Zika Virus". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
There is "very high suspicion" of a link between the Zika virus and microcephaly in French Polynesia, said Dr. Didier Musso, an infectious disease specialist at the archipelago's Institut Louis Malardé – though he said additional research was still needed. Last November French Polynesian officials reinvestigated an outbreak of Zika that lasted from October 2013 to April 2014. They reported finding an unusual increase – from around one case annually to 17 cases in 2014-15 – of unborn babies developing "central nervous system malformations," a classification that includes microcephaly.
- ^ Romero, Simon (29 January 2016). "Tears and Bewilderment in Brazilian City Facing Zika Crisis". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
- ^ McNeil, Jr., Donald G.; Romero, Simon; Tavernise, Sabrina (6 February 2016). "How a Medical Mystery in Brazil Led Doctors to Zika". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- ^ Murthy, Dr. Bhavini (28 January 2016). "Zika Virus Outbreak May Be Linked to Major Sporting Events". ABC News. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
- ^ Willie, Glenda (27 April 2015). "Zika and dengue cases confirmed". Vanuatu Daily Post. Port Vila. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
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- ^ "Tonga confirms 19 Zika cases". Radio New Zealand. 18 February 2016.
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