The number of confirmed and suspected cases of Zika infection in Colombia has eclipsed 10,000 cases, according to data from the Instituto Nacional de Salud, Colombia.

Colombia map Image/Alvaro1984 18
Colombia map
Image/Alvaro1984 18

Through Dec. 26, health officials have reported 9280 suspected and 736 laboratory confirmed Zika virus cases for a total of 10,016. Cases have been confirmed in 162 municipalities of the country, of which 77 (47.53%) for the Central Region and 24 (14,81%) correspond to the Caribbean Region. Antioquia is the territorial entity with the largest number of municipalities with confirmed cases (22 municipalities).

Zika virus infections are most often seen in women, more than six out of 10, and people ages 25-29 is the age group with the most cases (12 percent).

Fourteen of the 216 pregnant women reported with Zika infection have been confirmed positive by Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), according to health officials. Norte de Santander department accounted for more than one-third of the cases in pregnant woman.

There is no reports of microcephaly in the latest epidemiological bulletin and health officials have intensified the monitoring and surveillance of congenital defects and neurological symptoms with strong suspicion of Zika virus infection.

Related: 

Robert Herriman is a microbiologist and the Editor-in-Chief of Outbreak News Today and the Executive Editor of The Global Dispatch

Follow @bactiman63