The W.H.O. MEETS IN GENEVA ON FEBRUARY 1ST
AND DECIDE WHETHER THE OUTBREAK SHOULD BE
DEEMED AN INTERNATIONAL HEALTH EMERGENCY


Since it was first reported in May of last year, cases
of infection with the Zika virus--which is spread through mosquitoes--have continued to increase, with World Health Organization officials saying that the virus is “spreading explosively”. Late Yesterday, the WHO announced that it will hold an emergency meeting this Monday, February 1, in Geneva, to evaluate the possible link between Zika and neurological diseases as well as physical abnormalities in newborns, and decide whether the outbreak should be considered a public health emergency.



The decision will guide what further steps and
preventative measures the organization will take to
combat this outbreak. Of particular interest is
deciding whether Zika is the cause of the increase in
microcephaly, a condition that causes babies to be
born with abnormally small heads . Since October last year, Brazil has reported 4,180 cases; previously, the country reported only about 150 cases per year, according to The New York Times.


In addition to microcephaly, there have also been
reports of a connection between Zika virus and
Guillain-Barré syndrome--a condition in which the
immune system attacks the nerves and can lead to
paralysis ; the syndrome is often triggered by a
bacterial or viral infection. While WHO officials say
it’s important not to jump to conclusions, they wrote
that while a causal relationship between Zika and
birth defects and neurological conditions had yet to
be established, it is “strongly suspected”.
It seems this meeting can't come soon enough. A
group of scientists wrote last week in The Lancet that the outbreak is likely to continue to spread.

TheUnited States in particular has had about 20 cases since May--all of which came from people who had been travelling to outbreak areas and were infected there.
However, as the scientists note, of the 9.9
million travellers that leave Brazil each year, the
United States receives almost 3 million. In addition, the mosquito that transmits the Zika virus -- Aedes aegypti --is common in the southwestern U.S.

The scientists estimate that 22.7 million people live in areas, “conducive to year-round transmission.”
The CDC as well as the WHO affirm that the main way a person can be infected with the virus is by being bitten with a mosquito that carries it. Last week, a New York Times report noted two case reports, one from 2013 and another from 2008, that suggest that, rarely, the virus could be transmitted through sex.
However, based on just these few cases, the evidence is slim.

Earlier this month in Hawaii, the CDC confirmed the
first case of microcephaly in the United States
thought to be linked to Zika. The mother had travelled to Brazil while she was pregnant. Currently, the CDC is urging women who are planning on becoming pregnant not to travel to areas where the virus is rampant. Health officials in Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Jamaica have warned women to avoid becoming pregnant while the virus spreads.


There is currently no vaccine or cure for the virus, in which symptoms--like fever, headache, and muscle pain--show up in about 20 percent of those infected.

www.popsci.com/who-will-hold-emergency-meeting-monday-to-discuss-zika-virus

Scam alert, this is another strategy to introduce another costly vaccine for solely for Africans.

Ahahahahaha..... Actually, the virus is no way near Africa right now. It's restricted to the Americas (south and North America).

Scientists at WHO say it could spread but I hope not. We don't want another widespread global chaos.

Nigeria defeated Ebola. Now it's lassa fever. Zika better not cross continents.

Anyway, death is not at its rampant. Infected individuals are advised to get lot of rest and take in plenty of fluids.

yemmit90:
Scam alert, this is another strategy to introduce another costly vaccine for solely for Africans.

....

Safarigirl.... Since it's hard to get a hold of you over there, I say I will try over here... I need to discuss something with you. Thanks in anticipation.