From Cayman Islands Public Health Department

Chikungunya/Dengue Update as of 3 January 2015

There have been no newly confirmed local cases of chikungunya reported by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in the last two weeks (21 December 2014 – 3 January 2015).

Six results were received, but none tested positive. During this time officials also sent a further three samples for testing, where suspected cases had no travel history to countries experiencing outbreaks.

This leaves the number of confirmed chikungunya cases to date at 43, with an additional 29 possible cases where individuals became symptomatic after travel to endemic areas.

Since the first confirmed case of chikungunya in the Cayman Islands, on 25 June 2014, there have been a total of 205 suspected cases based on symptoms. Initially all suspected cases were tested. Once the epidemic became established in the region, blood samples for suspected cases with travel history to endemic areas were no longer sent for testing, but considered as possible cases, as per CARPHA guidelines.

In October suspected cases ranged from 20 to 25 per week, then fell to eight to 15 per week in November 2014, with only three confirmed cases during the last two weeks in December 2014.

Although the number of suspected cases is decreasing, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kiran Kumar encourages residents to continue to protect themselves from mosquito bites at home and during travels.

To date the total distribution of confirmed and possible cases has been: George Town – 37 West Bay – 15; Bodden Town – 12, Cayman Brac – 5, Little Cayman – 2 and North Side – 1.

There has also been an overall decrease in the number of cases reported in the region. As of 2 January 2015, 21,026 confirmed/probable cases of chikungunya have been reported by all CARPHA Member States, and 11 other Caribbean countries/territories. The total number of suspected cases is 834,856.

Further information can be obtained through www.hsa.ky. Regional updates can be accessed by visiting the CARPHA website on http://carpha.org/What-We-Do/Public-Health-Activities/Chikungunya. In addition United States updates are available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on http://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/geo/united-states.html.

Dengue Update:

The total number of confirmed dengue cases remains at four as notified on 24 November 2014; two with travel history to Honduras and two with no travel history indicating local transmission. One case occurred in September 2014 and three in October 2014.

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