Humans are trying to recruit a key ally in the fight against the mosquito-borne Zika virus: other mosquitoes.
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Margaret Chan, the director-general of the World Health Organization, said board members would meet on Monday to establish if the Zika virus should be declared an global emergency.
“In the area of vaccines, I do know that there has been some work done by some groups looking at the feasibility of a Zika virus vaccine”.
She says though the Zika virus has been detected in mosquitoes that are found in Central and South America, the extent of the virus is still unclear. However, US health officials have reiterated that the US is not vulnerable to the spread of Zika virus. While a direct causal relationship has not been established, scientists strongly suspect a link between Zika and thousands of children born in Brazil with abnormally small heads, brain defects and impaired vision.
The mosquito-born disease, for which there is no vaccine or treatment, has been quickly spreading across the Americas since May, when the first confirmed Zika infection was reported in Brazil.
“People visiting these countries, if it is too necessary, should take adequate precautions to prevent any types of mosquito bites and should protect themselves by using insect repellents and wearing long sleeves and using mosquito nets”, said Dr V.C.P. Mohammed, specialist in Internal Medicine at Atlas Hospital, Ruwi.
Jitters over Zika have spread far beyond the affected areas to Europe and North America, where dozens of cases have been identified among people returning from vacation or business overseas.
Dr. Tony Fauci, Cheif of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) said that the existence of similar vaccine platforms has made the job much easier to create a vaccine for the Zikka Virus.
However, unlike numerous South American countries where Zika has spread recently, the United States has mosquito control capabilities that will help slow it down.
There are several vaccines for Ebola in trial, however, there are not even any prospect vaccines for the Zika Virus. “Our main message is to warn pregnant women, and women trying to become pregnant, to avoid or delay traveling to any of the countries affected”, city Health Department spokesman Christopher Miller told the Post.
“We do not have a vaccine for Zika yet”.
Zika is carried by the Aedes mosquito. The head of infection and immuno-biology at the Wellcome Trust, Mike Turner expresses concern with the Zika Virus affecting pregnant women.
Etienne said the most important prevention is effective mosquito control, “which requires action by national and local governments but also by individuals, families and communities to eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites in and around homes, workplaces and schools”.
Deputy Health Minister Fernando Ruiz said Friday Colombia has now recorded 41 cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome that appear to be linked to Zika.
The “most prominent visitor” to Zika was the former US President Jimmy Carter “who came on a bird watching tour”.
Officials say they’ll host a webinar on the Zika virus for health professionals statewide following the identification of nine cases in NY.
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Health authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport assured the public that mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus would not last during the 14 to 20 hours in the air, including connecting flights to Manila.
