Peru: Potential Zika virus outbreak in Piura region /update 3

Event

Health officials fear a significant Zika virus outbreak in the Piura region. A total of 33 suspected cases have been reported since the beginning of the year, as of March 13, including one that has been clinically confirmed. Residents are being asked to take measures to destroy potential mosquito breeding grounds on their properties - i.e. pockets of fresh water or anywhere such pockets can form - and to allow health workers to enter their properties to carry out inspections.

Since the beginning of the year, 46 cases of chikungunya and 400 cases of dengue were also reported in the same region. All three diseases are transmitted by the same mosquito, the Aedes aegypti.

The region has been under state of emergency, declared by the Peruvian Ministry of Health, due to fears of disease outbreaks since February 25, although none of the pledged PEN 5 million (USD 1.5 million) in funds has been delivered.

Context

Symptoms of Zika - fever, headache (behind the eyes), conjunctivitis, rash, vomiting, and muscle and joint pain - can appear two to seven days following contraction of the disease, although the virus is asymptomatic in approximately 80 percent of cases. Transmission of the virus is also possible via sexual intercourse.

Although the Zika virus is usually relatively benign, links between it and severe birth defects as well as the potentially fatal neurological disorder Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) have been established.

Advice

Individuals in Piura, and Peru more generally, are advised to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites - e.g. by wearing covering clothing, using insect repellent, and sleeping under mosquito-netting or in an air conditioned room - and to eliminate possible mosquito breeding grounds (small pockets of fresh water, such as rain water that has collected in cans, bottles, tires, flower pots, clogged gutters, etc.).