Local transmission of the mosquito borne virus, chikungunya, has been detected in the Cayman Islands, according to the Mosquito Research & Control Unit this week.
According to Alan Wheeler, Assistant Director at Cayman Islands Mosquito Research & Control Unit, 11 samples taken from residents of the Cayman islands have tested positive for chikungunya. All results received 1st October. The updated information was posted in the Vector Control discussion board on Linkedin.
Three of the samples had no travel history and are therefore considered local transmission. All other samples had recent travel history to Jamaica (6) St Lucia (1) and Guyana (1).
It appears we now have local transmission so control efforts will now be switched from larval to adult control operations, Wheeler said. Early morning and early evening ground fogging and early evening aerial applications of Chlorpyrifos will be the main control methods.
Prior to this report, one locally acquired case was reported on the Cayman Islands in July.
According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Friday, there has been 750,000 autochthonous chikungunya cases reported in the Western hemisphere since December 2013. For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page
