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Global Zika emergency ended - still no all-clear
The global health emergency called by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Zika epidemic has now been lifted. However, the spread of the dangerous pathogen is still a major hazard in some regions.
Global health emergency lifted
In the past two years, the dangerous Zika virus has spread in several Central and South American countries. Occasionally, the pathogen was brought by travelers in other parts of the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) had declared a global health emergency in the spring of this year because of the virus. This has now been lifted. The danger is not over.
The World Health Organization has reversed the global health emergency due to the Zika epidemic. The pathogen remains a long-lasting threat to health. (Image: tacio philip / fotolia.com) Spread of the Zika virus continues to be a problem
WHO has now lifted the global health emergency caused by the Zika epidemic. However, WHO Emergency Committee Chair David Heymann said that the spread of the Zika virus to more than 30 countries remains a serious problem and that the fight requires sustained international efforts, the news agency dpa reports.
According to the agency, previously WHO-appointed virus experts discussed the Zika situation in an international conference call. It is said that the decision of the UN Special Organization to lift the nine-month global emergency announced on the recommendation of the experts.
Intensive research required
According to the experts, the dangers should not be underestimated despite the slowing of the spread of the pathogen. WHO departmental director for emergency programs, Peter Salama, said that a number of issues related to Zika were still largely unexplained. Therefore, the further intensive research of the virus is absolutely necessary.
Brain malformations in babies
According to health experts, the mosquito-borne Zika virus is not fatal and causes flu-like symptoms in about 20 percent of infected people, including fever, headache, body aches and sometimes rash.
The pathogen is also responsible for thousands of cases of neonatal cranial deformity (microcephaly). The children are born with an unusually small head, which can lead to brain malformations. According to the WHO, Zika is considered a "cause" of these anomalies. After the cases in Latin America, the first baby with microcephaly was born in Europe during the summer.
In Germany, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) since October 2015, more than 200 zika virus infections have been diagnosed in return travelers. (As of 04.11.2016) "In one case sexual transmission of the Zikavirus was observed. Since May 2016, there is also a legal obligation to report zika virus infections in order to better monitor the disease, "the institute writes on its website.
Long-lasting danger to health
According to dpa, David Heymann of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical said Zika remains a "significant and long-lasting" health hazard, despite the lifting of the global emergency.
According to the WHO, the pathogen can be transmitted not only by mosquitoes but also for a long time after a passing infection with seminal fluid during sex. In May it had been reported that the Zika virus was transmitted for the first time in Germany through sex. (Ad)