The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Zika virus no longer represents a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in a statement made on Friday.
About Zika Virus:
- Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes.
- People with Zika virus disease can have symptoms including mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. These symptoms normally last for 2-7 days.
- There is scientific consensus that Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Links to other neurological complications are also being investigated.
- Zika virus can be transmitted through sexual intercourse. This is of concern due to an association between Zika virus infection and adverse pregnancy and fetal outcomes.
The latest Zika situation report by the WHO – issued on November 17th – revealed that no countries or territories had reported new instances of mosquito-borne Zika virus infections for the first time in the week prior to the publication of the report.
It was also reported that no countries or territories had recorded any new cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) associated with Zika virus infection for the first time in the week prior.
Although Brazil, the epicentre of the
outbreak, has however refused to downgrade the risk, while experts swiftly lashed out against the world health body’s decision.“The Zika virus remains a highly significant and long term problem, but it is not any more a public health emergency of international concern,” the world health body’s emergency committee chair Dr David Heymann said.
Although it seems as if WHO is downplaying the severity of the Zika threat, the agency warned the virus is not going away.
Even though steps are being taken to develop a vaccine for the virus, nothing concrete has been released in to the market and hence it is advised to take all the precautions necessary, such as use mosquito repellents, wearing clothes that cover the skin etc.
Pregnant women are also cautioned against travelling to Zika affected areas to avoid contracting the virus and potential birth defects affecting the unborn children.
