20 Oct 2018 | 03:48 PM UTC
Caribbean: WHO rules region Zika-free Oct. 18 /update 1
World Health Organization (WHO) rules Caribbean Zika-free on October 18; other tropical viruses still present
Event
Following more than one year without a Zika case, the World Health Organization (WHO) removed its Zika virus country classification scheme for member-states of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) on Thursday, October 18, reclassifying the Caribbean from Category 1 (active Zika transmission) to Category 3 (no active Zika transmission).
Context
Case rates of the disease, detected in the region for the first time ever in late 2015, spiked in summer 2016 before falling sharply in 2017-2018. However, other mosquito-borne diseases are present in the region, including dengue fever and chikungunya.
Advice
Individuals in CARPHA member states are advised to continue to take measures to prevent mosquito bites (e.g. use insect repellent, sleep in screen-in or air conditioned rooms, etc.).
