British Cayman Islands reports first local transmission of head-shrinking disease
Grand Cayman man announced to be the first local case of Zika on the three islands
THE Cayman Islands has reported its first local transmission of the mosquito-borne Zika virus that has been spreading across the Americas since last year.
The acting medical officer of the British Caribbean territory announced on Monday that a Grand Cayman man appeared to be the first local case of Zika on the three islands.
Dr Samuel Williams-Rodriguez said the patient had not travelled recently.
He said: "With the rapid and ongoing transmission of the Zika virus around the world, it is not an alarming fact that local transmission has reached our shores.
"However, now that is has, this is even more reason for each and every one to play their part in ensuring that the spread is highly contained."
has said the infected man first reported his symptoms on July 25 before visiting a private physician on July 26.
From there, he went to the Cayman Islands hospital for tests.
The Caribbean Public Health Agency has confirmed three more samples of suspected imported cases of Zika.
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Zika causes a mild illness in most people but it can lead to severe brain-related birth defects if women are infected during pregnancy.
Symptoms can include fever, rash, joint and muscle pain as well as pain behind the eyes.
Seven Cayman Islands inhabitants have been confirmed as contracting Zika while overseas, the government says.
Zika fears have continued to plague the Olympics with athletes even making the decision to pull out to avoid the possibility of contracting the disease.
In recent days, US authorities announced cases in Florida believed to be first of people contracting the virus from mosquitoes within the 50 states.
It is understood the infected person travelled to Miami-Dade county, which is ground zero for an outbreak of Zika.
US state health officials are now trying to determine where the person contracted the virus.
The World Health Organisation has released a strategic response framework for countries dealing with Zika outbreaks, including strengthening the capacity of laboratories to detect the virus.
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