Home Press Releases Zika Update as at September 2, 2016

Zika Update as at September 2, 2016

  • 7,078 notifications received by the Ministry of Health
  • 5,299 (74%) fit the case definition for Zika and were classified as “Suspected Zika”.
  • 92 laboratory confirmed cases.
  • Parish distribution of suspected cases.
    • Up to 2 September 2016 Kingston and St. Andrew and St. Catherine had the greatest number (cumulative) of reported cases.
    • For the two weeks period, 7-20 August 2016, the greatest number of suspected cases was in St. James and St. Ann.

 

Pregnant Women

  • 572 notifications of zika virus infections in pregnant women
  • 501 were classified as suspected zika in pregnancy
  • 35 laboratory confirmed cases

 

Neurological Complications of Zika virus infection

Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS), a condition in which persons may present with acute onset of progressive paralysis. GBS should be reported to the Ministry of Health upon suspicion within 24 hours of presentation. All notifications received are subjected to an investigation.

As at September 5, 2016;

  • 111 notifications for possible GBS.
  • 22 have been classified by the Ministry of Health as suspected cases
    • Two have died.
  • 20 cases have been classified as not suspected for GBS.
  • 69 notifications are still under investigation.

Mortality associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome varies by sub-population. Within the population of persons diagnosed with GBS, an estimated one in twenty patients (5%) may die from complications, despite receiving adequate care. Mortality may be higher in mechanically ventilated patients; in a review of GBS patients ventilated in the ICU between 1984 and 2007, 12% of patients died.