Disease Outbreak News - 21 December 2015
On 21 October 2015, the National IHR Focal Point of Cape Verde informed WHO of the country’s first reported epidemic of Zika virus infection.
On 5 October 2015, health centres in Praia, Santiago Island began to report cases of cutaneous rash and pruritus with and apparently without fever. The earliest onset of symptoms occurred on 27 September. As of 14 October, a total of 165 cases had been reported.
Blood samples from 64 cases were sent to the Institute Pasteur of Dakar, Senegal. A total of 17 samples tested positive for Zika virus – 15 were IgM positive and 2 were positive by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The differential diagnosis included dengue, chikungunya, Rift Valley fever, West Nile fever, and yellow fever. Samples were also negative for measles and rubella.