title: Use of Blood Donor Screening Data to Estimate Zika Virus Incidence, Puerto Rico, April-August 2016.
abstract: Puerto Rico has been heavily impacted by Zika virus, a mosquitoborne flavivirus that emerged in the Americas during 2015. Although most persons with Zika virus show no symptoms, the virus can cause neurologic and other complications, including fetal microcephaly. Local Zika virus transmission in Puerto Rico has been reported since December 2015. To prevent transfusion-associated transmission, local blood collection ceased in March 2016 but resumed in April 2016 after Zika virus screening of blood donations became available. Using data from screening of blood donations collected by the 2 largest blood centers in Puerto Rico during April 3-August 12, 2016, and assuming a 9.9-day duration of viremia, we estimated that 469,321 persons in Puerto Rico were infected during this period, for an estimated cumulative incidence of 12.9%. Results from blood donation screening during arboviral outbreaks can supplement routine clinical and surveillance data for improved targeting of prevention efforts.
authors.forename: Michelle S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Chevalier
authors.forename: Brad J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Biggerstaff
authors.forename: Sridhar V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Basavaraju
authors.forename: M Cheryl Bañez
authors.initials: MCB
authors.lastname: Ocfemia
authors.forename: Jose O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Alsina
authors.forename: Consuelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Climent-Peris
authors.forename: Robin R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Moseley
authors.forename: Koo-Whang
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rivera-García
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bello-Pagán
authors.forename: Lisa L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Pate
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Galel
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kuehnert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D005260:Female; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000453:epidemiology; D012621:Seasons; D055815:Young Adult; D000071244:Zika Virus / Q000276:immunology; D000071243:Zika Virus Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Puerto Rico; Zika virus; arboviruses; blood donors; flavivirus; incidence; mosquitoes; vector-borne infections; viruses