GUYANA is among several countries that the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is recommending that should make reports on increases in neurological syndromes and congenital anomalies, which growing evidence suggests may be linked to Zika infections.According to PAHO’s latest epidemiological update, the countries and territories that have to date confirmed local Zika virus transmission are: Brazil, Barbados, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Suriname and Venezuela.

This is twice the number of countries and territories that were reported as having locally transmitted cases of Zika in the previous epidemiological update on December 1, 2015.

PAHO has also recommended that countries in the Americas prepare their healthcare facilities to respond to a potential increase in demand for specialized care for neurological syndromes, to strengthen prenatal care and to continue their efforts to reduce the presence of mosquito vectors through effective vector-control strategies and communication to the public.

The recommendations come against the background of an increase in microcephaly cases in Brazil. Microcephaly is a neurological disorder that results in babies being born with abnormally small heads, causing severe developmental issues and sometimes death.

According to Brazilian health authorities, 3,530 cases were reported between October 2015 and the first week of this month, and 46 of those babies died. Some of the affected infants have had a severe type of microcephaly.