Zika Cases Jump In French Guyana

The Aedes mosquito spreads the Zika virus as well. (Photo by: Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty images)

By NAN Staff Writer

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Jan. 15, 2015: French Guiana has seen an increase in Zika cases, the Pasteur Institute in Cayenne, says.

The latest report from the Institute says the cases have increased in the territory to 17 since the first case in mid-December was reported.

“We are committed to supporting vector control by monitoring resistance to insecticides, as part of an agreement with the Regional Health Agency. Research into the impact of this resistance on the vectorial competence of Aedes aegypti populations for various arboviruses, including the Zika virus, is also being conducted at the Vectopole”, adds Isabelle Dusfour, entomologist at the Institut Pasteur in French Guiana.

In Martinique, the Institute reported there are three cases and Haiti just reported its first case.

The Zika virus infections have spread to 13 countries and territories in the Americas including: Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Paraguay, Suriname and Venezuela. One case was confirmed in Puerto Rico on January 1, 2016.

The first cases were confirmed in Brazil in May 2015 and the country is currently experiencing the largest epidemic ever recorded with 440,000 to 1,300,000 suspected cases reported by the Brazilian health authorities.

Zika is a viral disease transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito that causes fever, muscle and joint pain, headache, nausea and rash.