Colombia Reports 5,000 Zika Cases in First Weeks of 2016

Since the Zika virus outbreak struck Colombia in October last year, over 16,000 clinically and laboratory confirmed and suspected cases have been reported by health authorities. During the first weeks of 2016, over 5,000 confirmed and suspected cases have been recorded.

Health officials said the the average notifications for the past five weeks was 1,749 cases per week.

The areas with the highest number of cases include Barranquilla, Cundinamarca, Huila, Norte de Santander and Tolima. Together, they account for 57.5 percent of the cases in Colombia.

Since the epidemic started through mid-January, a total of 1,090 Zika cases involving pregnant women have been reported from 30 territories and 138 municipalities. In Norte de Santander alone, 468 pregnant women have been diagnosed with confirmed or suspected Zika infection.

Health authorities said over 500 pregnant women have been placed under strict monitoring in accordance with the guidelines of the national government.
 [ubalert.com]
25/1/16
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