England, Wales and Northern Ireland Imported Zika Cases Reach New Highs

Recent data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show that the number of imported Zika cases in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (EWNI) increased last year.

On March 27, 2025, the UKHSA disclosed that the number of Zika virus disease cases reached 16 in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland during 2024, compared to 8 cases in 2023.

Most Zika-infected travellers returned to EWNI from South-Eastern Asia, where countries reported locally acquired infections.

For example, since 2016, the Zika virus has been reported in India's 16 different states/union territories.

Dr. Philip Veal, Consultant in Public Health at the UKHSA, stated in a media release, "It is essential to take precautions against mosquito-borne infections such as dengue while travelling abroad. Simple steps, such as using insect repellent, covering exposed skin, and sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets, can reduce the risk of mosquito-borne infections."

Although Zika virus cases are rarely reported and don't often cause serious illness, the infection poses a significant risk to pregnant women, as it can be passed to the fetus.

An Original Investigation published by JAMA Public Health in January 2025 found that children born with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) had a 13.10-fold higher hazard of death compared with those without CZS.

This health risk is well-known in the Region of the Americas, where Zika infections have substantially increased.

Over 42,127 ZIka cases were confirmed in the Americas in 2024, with the highest proportion of Zika cases reported in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, and Costa Rica.

The U.S. CDC says Zika-spreading mosquitoes are found throughout Puerto Rico, where the Department of Health reported 16 cases in 2024.

In 2023, over 37,659 Zika cases were reported by various countries in the Americas.

As of March 31, 2025, no drug or vaccine prevents Zika virus infection. However, Zika vaccine candidates are conducting clinical trials in 2025.