Nigeria: WHO Declares Zika Virus a Global Emergency

2 February 2016

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the mosquito-borne Zika virus an international public health emergency as the disease linked to thousands of suspected cases of birth defects in Brazil spreads rapidly.

Th is came as the federal government monday tasked the Nigerian armed forces to conduct research towards the production of effective vaccines against Lassa fever, Zika virus and other diseases threatening the life of its personnel and the civil populace. WHO Director-General, Margaret Chan, told journalists yesterday that an international coordinated response was needed to improve detection and speed work on a vaccine and better diagnostics, although curbs on travel or trade were not necessary.

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