Colombia: Dengue, chikungunya and Zika updates

November 20, 2015

1 Comment

Infections transmitted by the Aedes mosquito have spread significantly in Colombia, including dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika virus. The Instituto Nacional de Salud, or the Colombia National Institutes of Health released the following data on the three diseases through Nov. 7:

Dengue fever

Through epidemiological week 44 of 2015, the Public Health Surveillance System (SIVIGILA) has reported 78,123 dengue cases; 77086 cases (98.7%) of dengue and 1037 cases (1.3%) severe dengue. 51% of severe dengue cases occurred in children under 14 years. An average of 1,775 dengue cases a week have been reported.

Compared the same epidemiological period in 2014, Colombia has seen a 13 percent, or 12,970 reduction in cases.

81% of dengue cases came from 12 states with Valle del Cauca and Santander seeing the most.

Sixty-one dengue fatalities have been reported with Tolima department reporting the most (18).

Chikungunya

During 2014, a total of 106,592 chikungunya cases were filed. So far in 2015 through epidemiological week 44, 351,343 cases have been reported, of which 348,855 were confirmed clinically, 1990 were laboratory-confirmed and 495 are considered suspected cases.

Virus circulation has been demonstrated in 35 territorial entities who have reported laboratory confirmed and suspected cases: Amazon, Atlantic, Arauca, Antioquia, Barranquilla, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas, Caquetá, Cartagena, Casanare, Cauca, Choco, Cesar, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Putumayo, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Sucre, Santander, Santa Marta, Quindio, Risaralda, Tolima, San Andres, Guainía, Guaviare, Valle del Cauca, Vaupés and Vichada.

72 cumulative chikungunya deaths have been reported, with seven being co-infection with dengue.

Zika virus

Since first reported in the municipality of Turbaco in late September, locally acquired Zika virus has grown and expanded in Colombia (in 23 or the 36 local authorities). Through epidemiological week 44, 393 confirmed cases have been reported.