Zika virus risk assessment in the WHO African region

This analysis was conducted in order to assess the risk of a Zika virus outbreak for each country in the WHO African Region, and their capacity to contain it, thus preventing it from becoming an epidemic. The specific objectives were to: i) Map the epidemiological likelihood of Zika virus transmission using information on the current and past reports of clinical cases, serological evidence of exposure in humans, evidence of the transmission by Ae aegypti of other arboviruses; ii) Assemble indicators on demography, urbanization, access to health care, surveillance, laboratory capacity and other systems of health system strengths to define exposures, vulnerabilities and country coping capacity; iii) Develop a Zika virus risk assessment framework that includes indicators of main hazards, exposures, vulnerabilities and lack of coping capacities by country; and iv) Implement a Zika virus risk ranking by country in the WHO African Region.