So far, cases of babies born with small, deformed heads linked to Zika have only been confirmed in Brazil and French Polynesia, though officials say they expect reports from other countries once the virus has been circulating there long enough to affect pregnant women.
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Authorities should also be prepared for more cases of the infection and over a wider geographical area, the organisation’s director general Dr Margaret Chan told reporters.
A vaccine for the Zika virus could be ready for human trials later this year, Dr Anthony Fauci, who is leading the United States government’s research programme, said last week.
Geneva – The World Health Organization on Tuesday, 8 March, advised pregnant women not to travel to areas affected by the Zika virus outbreak, saying the new advice was issued amid mounting evidence that Zika can cause birth defects.
In Central and South America the virus has been transmitted mainly by the Aedes aegypti species of mosquito, which is not present in New York State.
Brazil said it has confirmed more than 640 cases of the disease and considers most to be related to Zika infection in mothers. “It is important we recommend strong public health measures and not wait until we have definitive proof”.
“Sexual transmission of Zika virus is possible, and is of particular concern during pregnancy”, said the advisory published by the nation’s top agency for combatting infectious disease.
She said nine countries have now reported increasing cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare condition that can cause temporary paralysis and death, in people beyond women of child-bearing age, including children, teenagers and older adults. It noted local transmission has now been reported in 31 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Zika virus is predominantly transmitted via mosquitoes, though cases of sexual transmission are increasingly reported.
“If you’re 22 and just thinking about having a baby at some point, that’s different than being 35 and really wanting to get going at it”, she said. “We felt we needed to make this recommendation”, he said, adding that it remains up to individual countries to designate regions where there are ongoing outbreaks “and where there are not”.
“They’re examining 3,000 women who contracted the Zika virus while pregnant”, said Ahmed.
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“I don’t know of anyone who died of Zika virus”, he said.
