Ecuador: Two Cases Confirmed Zika Virus, Imported from Colombia

Ecuador reports imported Zika infections via Colombia
Posted by Robert Herriman on January 11, 2016 outbreaknewstoday.com

The Ministry of Public of Ecuador (MSP) Health, through the National Epidemiological Surveillance confirmed that there have been two laboratory-confirmed Zika virus infections in Quityo residents, according to a news release (computer translated).

The patients presented with rash, fever, itching, headache, generalized joint pain, conjunctival hyperemia. As part of epidemiological surveillance, blood samples were sent to the National Institute of Public Health Research (INSPI) were taken. Blood for dengue and chikungunya was processed according to the current protocol with negative results for both and subsequent positive for Zika.

The investigation into the cases determined them to be imported. The patients traveled during the holidays this year to the city of Neiva, Huila department, Colombia (an endemic area of ​​dengue and chikungunya, with 408 confirmed cases of Zika) remaining there from Dec. 22 to Jan. 5. They are currently being treated in the city of Quito where there is no presence of the mosquito vector, Aedes aegypti, health officials note. Read Article