The Zika virus is now declared as a global health emergency. Experts claimed the infection is spreading fast and thousands of babies are already affected.
With World Health Organization labeling the Zika virus as global public health emergency, it is now considered in the same tier of concern as the Ebola virus, Yahoo News reports. With this label, more attention will be given to the virus, which will naturally speed up research and assistance in uncovering treatments for the infection.
The symptoms of the Zika virus can be quite deceiving. The symptoms are relatively mild and may even put unsuspecting individuals, especially pregnant women at ease that they have nothing to worry about when they experience the symptoms. However, it is strongly believed that the Zika virus causes the surge in cases of microcephaly.
Microcephaly is a condition wherein a baby is born with abnormally small head and brain, which is something mothers would never want for their babies to suffer from. WHO Chief Margaret Chan clarified that even without scientific proof, the relationship between the virus and the disorder affecting babies is strongly suspected.
Some Americans are now worried, CNN reports. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Americans do not need to worry yet about the virus since they are unlikely to ever come into contact with it, unless they live in or go to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, the Caribbean, as well as the Central and South America. Pregnant women are advised not to go to these areas. Pregnant women on these areas are called to protect themselves against mosquito bites through different repellant methods.
The CDC claimed that it is doing everything to contain the virus by supporting the efforts of the affected countries to on their mosquito control strategies. The CDC claimed that they are devoting more attention to the problem before the warmer weather comes in and mosquitoes become a much bigger problem.
