The United Nations agency said last week the Zika virus was “spreading explosively” and could infect as many as four million people in the Americas.
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“This definition implies a situation that: is serious, unusual or unexpected; carries implications for public health beyond the affected State’s national border, and may require immediate global action”, the WHO said on its website.
“The theme is very apt”, said Deyalsingh added who on Friday declared Zika a public health emergency and launching measures against this.
Zika virus has been tentatively linked to 4,000 suspected cases of microcephaly in Brazil, a condition that results in abnormally small heads and brains in newborns.
Health experts are anxious because in most of the cases, Zika causes no observable symptoms, which means affected pregnant women have idea that they are at risk of giving birth to a baby with a rare disease. It includes an algorithm for assessing pregnant women with a history of travel. The country has always been characterized by extremes of wealth and poverty, but now even in the prosperous southeast, where Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are located, authorities are reporting the virus’ presence.
Microcephaly is a birth defect being associated to women who have been infected by the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have released a list of countries where the Zika virus is roaming.
World Health Organization director general Dr. Margaret Chan referred to the spread of the virus as “explosive” and said Zika had gone “from a mild threat to one of alarming proportions”.
“As long as there is global travel, there is always risk of introduction of Zika virus to Hong Kong”.
But establishing if there is Zika infection is not easy.
The virus has also been linked to Guillain-Barre syndrome, which causes muscle weakness and nerve problems.
Apart from the fact the Zika virus can be spread by an Aedes aegypti mosquito, scientists have discovered two cases of the virus in semen, including one case where it was sexually transmitted. In 2007, Zika, which is spread to people via mosquito bites, has been making its way to the Americas.
Secretary for Food and Health Dr Ko Wing-man said: “Do not have any unnecessary water collection at home”.
A designated page for Zika Virus Infection (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/43086.html) has been created in the CHP’s website, providing ample health information for the public.
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So we do expect, unfortunately, that Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands could have many infections with the Zika virus, and we will certainly see U.S. travelers returning with Zika infections, just as we saw travelers returning with dengue and chikungunya infections.
