WHO Warns Zika Virus To Spread Across The US, Scientists Require A Decade Making Vaccine Available For Public

By Staff Writer

Jan 29, 2016 04:23 AM EST

World Health Organization (WHO) has warned on Sunday that the mosquito born Zika virus will soon be available across the US. The Zika virus causes a disease that shrinks the head and brains of fetuses inside mothers' wombs.

The Zika virus will continue to spread and likely reach all countries and territories of the region where Aedes mosquitoes are available. Aedes mosquitoes are available in America, Canada and Chile. Aedes mosquitoes are also transmitter of diseases like yellow fever and West Nile Virus, reports New York Magazine quoting officials from Who's Pan American chapter.

Meanwhile, the US scientists have urged WHO to take urgent actions against spread of the Zika Virus considering its explosive pandemic potential. They fear, a vaccine may be ready for testing in two years but may require a decade to make it available for the public. Zika has already caused panic in Brazil infecting thousands of people and has spread to some 20 countries, reports BBC.

Cases of Zika  infections  have  already been discovered in Europe. Three cases have been detected in Great Britain, four in Italy, two in Switzerland and two in Spain's Catalonia region. The British travelers have picked up the disease while visiting Colombia, Suriname and Guyana, according to a report published in Mail Online.

The Zika infection is native to Africa and spread to the Western Hemisphere in 2015. The African people have natural immunity to the virus 80% of the Zika infected people have experienced no effects, while most others suffer only flue like symptoms.

The virus is profoundly damaging to the unborn. In Brazil, 3,500 microcephaly  infected babies have born with shrunken heads and tiny brains since October. The epidemic of birth defects has led some governments to discourage women from getting pregnant. Meanwhile, El Salvador suggests delaying all pregnancies until 2018.

Columbia appears to be the second most affected country with 13,500 people infected. According to Alejandro Gaviria, the Colombian health minister, the disease may hit as many as 700,000 people. The minister has advised women to delay pregnancies for eight months.

A surge in Zika infections across Latin America and mainly in Brazil, has prompted the US and other governments have issued travel warnings to the region for the pregnant women. The warning has maligned the prospect Rio de Janeiro Olympics to be inaugurated in August.

Zika virus is born by Aedes mosquitoes. The areas where this genre of mosquitoes is available may be affected by Zika induced diseases. The genre is available across the US and hence WHO warns on Sunday against possible Zika virus outbreak. However, the US scientists have informed that the vaccine may be tested within 2 years, but for making the vaccine available for public may require a decade. They have urged the WHO to adopt steps restricting the probable outbreak.

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