Citing Geographic Spread, WHO Says Zika Remains 'International Public Health Emergency' Mexico Star
go to original September 3, 2016

WHO: Zika Virus Still Spreading (Associated Press)

Following a meeting of its Emergency Committee on Zika, the United Nations health agency said that the infectious disease, and its associated congenital and other neurological disorders, continues to be an international public health emergency due to continuing geographic expansion and considerable gaps in understanding of the virus and its consequences. This extraordinary event is rapidly becoming, unfortunately, an ordinary event

"These deliberations decided that the situation continues to constitute a public health emergency of international concern. And this is because new outbreaks of Zika continue to be identified in new geographic regions," the Committee chair, David L. Heymann, said at a press conference in Geneva.

"This extraordinary event is rapidly becoming, unfortunately, an ordinary event," added Mr. Heymann, who is also responsible for communicable diseases at the World Health Organization (WHO).

WHO first declared Zika an international public health emergency in February. Since it was detected in Brazil late last year, the virus has spread through the Americas and the Caribbean to other regions, including Africa, Oceania, and Asia. Zika can cause microcephaly, a rare birth defect that could lead to serious developmental problems, and has also been linked to other severe fetal brain abnormalities. WHO has also linked Zika to Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), a rare neurological syndrome that causes temporary paralysis in adults.

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