The Centre for diseases Control and Prevention in the US has confirmed nine cases of Zika virus infection in nine pregnant women. Four of the women have delivered with one baby having a brain defect; two had abortions while the other pregnancies are progressing. All nine contracted the infection overseas.
Zika is carried by mosquito and has been linked to thousands of babies being born with underdeveloped brains.
The mosquito, Aedes Egypti breeds in stagnant waters in warm climates, both conditions are in Africa and the Southeast Asia. In these places you have open stagnant drainages, various containers of rain water, indoor water containers (covered or open), un-cleared refuse which can hold water; thus the mosquito is present in Africa, South Asia, Southern Europe, Southern States of the United States of America, Central America , the Caribbean, South America excluding Chile because of the temperate climate.
WHO therefore intends to set surveillance centres in these areas to monitor the disease, at the same time, efforts are on to develop a vaccine.
It is spreading through the Americas and the World Health Organisation has declared the disease linked to the virus a global public Health emergency.
No Comments