According to the World Health Organisation, 41 countries or territories have reported transmission of Zika within their borders since a year ago, and eight have reported an increase in Guillain-Barre cases.
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“First prize would be pregnant women not travelling at all to these countries”, he said.
“Aedes aegypti is the cockroach of mosquitoes”, Kieny said.
A United States study conducted by a team from Johns Hopkins’ Institute for Cell Engineering in Baltimore showed that the virus targeted cells involved in unborn children’s brain development, destroying or disabling them.
The PAHO said there is no evidence that Zika can cause death, but some cases have been reported with more serious complications in patients with pre-existing medical conditions.
“If a man wants to start a family, going to a Zika-endemic area is not the smart thing to do”, said Dr. José Cordero.
Marines deploying next month for Balikatan exercises in the Philippines will be briefed about the Zika virus present on the islands but won’t need to take special measures to protect themselves.
“They’re examining 3,000 women who contracted the Zika virus while pregnant”, said Ahmed.
Travelers to these areas are specifically advised to wear long-sleeved shirts and long trousers, and to use approved insect repellents. “This includes being knowledgeable about where the virus is spreading, consulting with a healthcare provider, and, most importantly, following public health’s recommendations to avoid mosquito bites”.
PAHO has developed a strategy to help countries mitigate the impact of Zika virus, through strengthening their capabilities to detect the introduction and spread of the virus, reducing mosquito populations, ensuring the necessary health services, and communicating effectively with the public about risks and prevention measures.
“We can expect more cases and further geographical spread”, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan told a news briefing. Most exposure comes from infected mosquitoes, but Zika is now known also to be transmitted sexually. In addition to technical meetings they are visiting hospitals and laboratories and traveling to areas of the country where there have been cases of Zika.
“Women who are pregnant in affected countries or travel to these countries are understandably deeply anxious”, Chan said.
The virus has already swept through Brazil, where thousands of babies have been born with microcephaly, a defect in which the head is unusually small.
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British health officials reported Zika was found in a man’s semen two months after he was infected, suggesting the virus may linger in semen long after infection symptoms fade.
