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Massive spread of Zika virus in Colombia Over 2,000 pregnant women infected
According to the authorities, more than 2,100 pregnant women have been infected with the Zika virus in Colombia. The pathogen, which is currently rife in several Latin American countries, is suspected of causing neonatal skull malformations. On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) will take part in a meeting to spread the virus.
Over 20000 infected in Colombia
For several months, the Zika virus has been spreading in various countries in South and Central America. Through travelers, the pathogen also succeeded in countries outside the affected regions. Several Zika cases were also confirmed in Germany. An extremely high number of infected persons is now reported from Colombia. According to authorities, 2,116 pregnant women have been infected with the dangerous Zika virus there so far. According to a report by the AFP news agency, health authorities said on Saturday in Bogotá that a total of 20,297 infections had been registered.
Pathogen can be transmitted to the unborn
The Zika virus is usually not fatal and leads according to health experts in about 20 percent of infected people to flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches and sometimes rash. It is transmitted by mosquitoes. Infected pregnant women can transmit the pathogen to their unborn baby. The virus is suspected to be the cause of microcephaly. The children are born with an unusually small head, which can lead to brain malformations. The little ones are often mentally handicapped and suffer from neurological disorders because the brain is underdeveloped. Although it is not yet clear whether the virus really is the trigger for this, but health experts advise pregnant women not to travel to Latin America at the moment. In particular, Brazil is affected by a rapid rise of newborns with microcephaly.
Panic is spreading: more and more people are becoming infected. Image: artemegorov - fotolia Avoid traveling to risk areas
There is no vaccine or specific therapy yet. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and the Federal Foreign Office also advise pregnant women and women who are planning to become pregnant from avoiding traveling to risk areas. The RKI offers an assessment of the situation on its website. And the Federal Foreign Office provides a leaflet on Zika virus infection on the Internet. On Monday, February 1, the World Health Organization (WHO) will address the spread of the Zika virus in an emergency meeting, but expressly warns against panic. (Ad)