Headlines - Chikungunya Alert in the Caribbean

Local transmission of the Chikungunya virus has been detected on the island of Saint Martin since the last week of November 2013. This is the first time this virus has been detected in the Americas-Caribbean region. The Cire Antilles-Guyane and the Guadeloupe Regional Health Agency immediately implemented epidemiological and microbiological surveillance. Data from this surveillance led to the declaration of an epidemic phase on December 6, in accordance with the Chikungunya Virus Surveillance, Alert, and Risk Management Program (Psage). Furthermore, given the potential for the disease to be introduced and spread to Saint Barthélemy, Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana, enhanced surveillance for Chikungunya cases was also implemented on these islands. On December 18, this surveillance detected two confirmed indigenous cases in Martinique and one case in French Guiana, imported from Martinique. On December 24, the first locally acquired case was confirmed in Guadeloupe. Thus, as of January 5, 2014, the Chikungunya epidemic continues to spread in Saint Martin (more than 200 probable or confirmed cases, more than 400 suspected cases, and 1 death). In Saint Barthélemy, the steady increase in the number of biologically confirmed cases attests to the active circulation of the virus on the island. Both of these territories remain in the epidemic phase (Phase 3a of the Chikungunya Psage). In Martinique, there has been an increase in the number of laboratory-confirmed cases and the number of affected municipalities. This department was placed this week in the active virus circulation phase with the presence of several local transmission chains (Phase 2b). In Guadeloupe, an outbreak with active virus circulation has been identified. This department remains in the moderate indigenous transmission phase (Phase 2a). In French Guiana, although the number of suspected cases is rising, only one biologically confirmed case—imported from Martinique—has been identified to date. French Guiana remains in the enhanced surveillance phase of the Psage (Phase 1).