French Polynesia . In December 2013, an
American traveler to Mo'orea was diagnosed with Zika virus infection in
New York after an 11-day history of symptoms, becoming the first American tourist to be diagnosed with Zika. A
Japanese tourist returning to
Japan was also diagnosed with Zika virus infection by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases after visiting Bora Bora, becoming the first imported case of Zika fever in Japan. By February 2014, it was estimated that more than 29,000 people with Zika-like symptoms had sought medical care, roughly 11.5% of the population, and on 25 February, the
Norwegian Institute of Public Health reported that a traveler returning to
Norway from Tahiti was confirmed to have a Zika virus infection.
New Caledonia Zika spread westwards from French Polynesia to
New Caledonia, where imported cases from French Polynesia were reported from November 2013 onwards. The first indigenous case was confirmed in January 2014 by the
Pasteur Institute. On 10 February, there were 64 reported cases of Zika in the communities of Greater
Nouméa,
Dumbéa, and
Ouvéa, of which 30 were imported from French Polynesia. By 26 February 2014, there were 140 confirmed cases of Zika in New Caledonia, including 32 imported cases. Nearly 40 other cases of Zika virus infection were imported into
New Zealand. By 29 May, the outbreak had ended, with 50 confirmed and 932 suspected cases of Zika virus infection. By the end of the year, 173 cases of Zika had been reported, but all of the cases were described as "mild". On 24 September 2014, a
Belgian woman flying to Easter Island from Tahiti was diagnosed with Zika virus infection after having previously received
ambulatory care in Tahiti, and was taken to
Hanga Roa Hospital for evaluation.
LAN Airlines undertook operations to ensure other people on the woman's flight were not infected, and local health authorities stated that Zika was not a risk for people on the island. ==Transmission==