In the face of a grow number of cases , and increase evidence that the Zika virus is responsible for for a stiletto heel in nascence defects , last month the World Health Organization declared the current eruption of the computer virus to be aglobal emergency . Mostly spread by mosquito , the WHOhave now announcedthat sexual transmission of the disease is more common than antecedently thought , and that the virus is indeed “ neurotrophic , ” preferentially affecting the tissue of the brain and brainiac radical .
In an address to the medium after a Zika emergency brake committee meeting , WHO Director - General Dr. Margaret Chansaidthat “ all of this news is alarming . ” She explain how the computer virus is now spreading to new countries , on top of the 31 country and soil in Latin America and the Caribbean where local transmission has already been document . She also stated that there is a growing torso of grounds connect the virus to microcephaly , which so far has been report in both Brazil and Gallic Polynesia , though they expect more cases to occur in the next few month , particularly in Colombia .
“ Reports and investigations from several nation strongly suggest that intimate transmission system of the virus is more mutual than previously assumed , ” said Chan . “ Women who are meaning in affected countries or travel to these countries are intelligibly deeply disquieted . ”
It has been difficultfor scientists to definitively put forward whether or not the virus is make babies to be born with microcephaly , in which their developing infants ’ straits do not grow to the correct size . Before the eruption in Brazil in 2014 , there were 147 case of the developmental condition report , yet a twelvemonth later that number spike to 2,782 cases .
The Zika virus has been establish to preferentially taint brain tissue paper , and has been detected in the bloodline and cerebrospinal fluid of fetus following miscarriages , still births , and abortions from mothers taint with the virus . It has also been found in the amnionic fluid , and “ grounds show it can span the placental roadblock and infect the fetus , ” say Chan . While this is not conclusive , it strongly charge to the disease ’s role in several document birth abnormalities associated with Zika , including microcephaly .
“ The Committee underscored the increase military strength of evidence showing a probable association between Zika infection and fetal malformations and neurological disorder , ” conclude Chan . With scientists around the world working to stop the computer virus , it is hopedthat a vaccine could be ready for human trials in the United States later this year .
