Research and analysis

HPR volume 10 issue 8: news (26 February)

Updated 16 December 2016

1. Zika virus – epidemiological update

As of 25 February, 42 countries and territories worldwide have reported confirmed cases of autochthonous (locally-acquired) Zika virus infection in the last nine months (see PHE Zika webpage for latest information) for latest information [1].

The outbreak in the Americas continues to spread rapidly, with 31 countries within Central and South America and the Caribbean currently affected by active Zika virus transmission (see PHE Map). It is anticipated that in the coming weeks and months further countries and territories within the geographical range of competent mosquito vectors – especially Aedes aegypti – will report autochthonous transmission.

Within continental Europe, no autochthonous Zika virus cases have been reported. However, active Zika virus transmission is ongoing in a number of the European overseas territories (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Saint Martin) [2].

ECDC has recorded 177 imported cases in 15 continental Europe: Austria (1 case), Czech Republic (2), Denmark (1), Finland (2), France (66), Germany (20), Ireland (3), Italy (6), Malta (1), Netherlands (30), Portugal (7), Spain (27), Sweden (2), Slovenia (1) and the UK (8) [2]. Aedes albopictus, a potential vector of Zika virus, is established in most places around the Mediterranean coast [3]. During winter, the risk of transmission of Zika virus infection is extremely low within Europe as the climatic conditions are not suitable for the activity of Aedes albopictus. During the summer season, autochthonous transmission following the introduction of the virus by a viraemic traveller is possible in areas where Aedes albopictus is established [4].

In the UK, the risk of autochthonous, vector-borne Zika virus transmission is deemed to be negligible due to climatic factors (that preclude the Aedes mosquito vector surviving). As at 24 February, seven imported cases associated with the current outbreak have been reported in the UK (from Barbados, Colombia, Curacao/Venezuela, Guyana/Suriname and Mexico/Venezuela) [1].

Recent increases in congenital anomalies (particularly microcephaly) and Guillain-Barré syndrome are being reported in some areas where Zika virus outbreaks have occurred. The association of these illnesses with the virus is temporal and causality has yet to be proven, however there is growing evidence to support such an association. Further information about these findings is available ECDC and from WHO [4,5].

More information on Zika virus infection can be found on the PHE website [1].

1.1 References

1. PHE website. Zika virus: health protection guidance collection.

2. ECDC. Communicable Disease Threats Report. Week 8, 21-27 February 2016.

3. ECDC. Exotic mosquitoes: Distribution maps.

4. ECDC (23 February 2016). Rapid risk assessment: Zika virus disease epidemic: potential association with microcephaly and Guillain-Barre syndrome, third update.

5. WHO. Emergencies: Zika virus situation reports.

2. Vaccine coverage and vaccine-preventable disease reports in this issue of HPR

The following three vaccine coverage reports and three vaccine preventable disease reports are published in this issue of HPR. The links below are to the relevant webpage collections.

2.1 Vaccine coverage (England) reports

• MenB vaccine programme (provisional) to end-January 2016
• prenatal pertussis vaccine coverage estimates, November 2015 to January 2016
• rotavirus immunisation programme (preliminary data), October-December 2015

2.2 Routine infection reports

• Invasive meningococcal disease (England), Q4/2015
• MMR (England), Q4/2015
• Haemophilus influenzae (E&W), Q4 and annual reports, 2015