Zika detected in Haiti, Dominican Republic not affected yet

Santo Domingo.– The local transmission of Zika virus has now been found in 15 Western Hemisphere countries and territories, including Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Guyana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Paraguay and Venezuela, but the virus hasn’t been detected in the Dominican Republic.

According to Communicable Diseases Dept. and Health Analysis Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) director Dr. Marcos Espinal, there are many people who will contract zika without knowing it.

He also said the virus shouldn’t cause alarm among the population. "The diagnosis is for monitoring. The main thing is to control the vectors," Espinal said during a conference in Santo Domingo.

Since the Aedes aegypti mosquito that transports the virus is found throughout the region, except in continental Chile and Canada, PAHO said it is likely that outbreaks will occur in other countries that have not yet reported any cases.