Zika-linked condition: WHO declares global emergency

Three-month-old Alice Vitoria Gomes Bezerra, who has microcephaly, held by her father Joao Batista Bezerra in Recife, Brazil. 27 Jan 2016

A disease linked to the Zika virus in Latin America poses a global public health emergency requiring a united response, says the World Health Organization.

Experts are worried that the virus is spreading far and fast, with devastating consequences.

The infection has been linked to cases of microcephaly, in which babies are born with underdeveloped brains.

The WHO alert puts Zika in the same category of concern as Ebola.

It means research and aid will be fast-tracked to tackle the infection.

There have been around 4,000 reported cases of microcephaly in Brazil alone since October.

WHO director general, Margaret Chan called Zika an “extraordinary event” that needed a co-ordinated response.

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Leah
Leah
8 years ago

I have read repeatedly that it is actually due to the Dtap Vaccine. At the time these cases of birth defects startes coincides with Brazil’s change in vaccine schedule for pregnant women Dtap which is known to cause brain damage was moved from the 3rd trimester to the 2nd trimester. Then a few months later these babies started to be born. Zika has been around way to long for this to be a new side effect. while i do not support GMO anything I do think it is definitely the vaccine.