27,000 Zika Cases Confirmed Across the Americas in 2023

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) today announced thirty-five laboratory experts gathered this week in the Dominican Republic to discuss increasing the use of tools to detect and monitor mosquito-borne diseases in the Americas. 

The PAHO confirmed that from January until the end of July 2023, 27,000 Zika cases have been reported across the Americas.

The most significant Zika outbreaks were reported in Brazil, Bolivia, Belize, and Paraguay.

The U.S. CDC says because the mosquitoes that spread Zika are found throughout Puerto Rico, people living on the island are at risk for infection. In addition, the Puerto Rico Department of Health says Zika will continue to infect people in 2023. 

In 2022, there were about 40,000 Zika cases in the Americas.

"At least nine arboviruses with public health impact - such as dengue, zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever - are circulating in Latin America and the Caribbean, so strengthening and expanding laboratory detection and surveillance capacities are key to ensuring a timely response to outbreaks and epidemics," said Sylvain Aldighieri, Deputy Director of PAHO's Department of Health Emergencies, in a press release on August 16, 2023.

As of August 2023, the U.S. FDA has not approved a Zika vaccine.