Africa: WHO Declares Zika Virus a Public Health Emergency

The World Health Organization has declared the recent outbreak of the Zika virus in Latin American countries a public health emergency. The mosquito-borne disease, which carries symptoms such as mild fever and joint pains, has recently been linked to increased cases of microcephaly - a condition that leads to a variety of neurological and developmental disorders in newborn babies. There is no treatment or vaccine currently available.

In the absence of treatment, the best way to reduce the number of Zika virus cases is preventing mosquito bites. The mosquito species responsible for spreading the virus, Aedes aegypti, also carries dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya, so reducing their numbers will have knock-on benefits for other diseases. Unlike the Anopheles mosquito which transmits malaria, Aedes aegypti is active during the day, limiting the protection provided by mosquito nets. With political will and high investment from donors and governments, however, the mosquito populations can be reduced through other means.

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