World Health Organisation cautions Nigeria, others on Zika virus on HWN ZIKA VIRUS UPDATE

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has enjoined Nigeria and other African countries to be watchful and prepre to tackle any sign of the Zika virus disease.

WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, stated in a release that the most effective forms of prevention are reducing mosquito population by eliminating their potential breeding sites and using personal protection measures to prevent mosquito bites.

The Zika virus occurs in tropical areas with large mosquito populations, and is known to circulate in Africa, the Americas, southern Asia and Western Pacific.

People are infected with the virus when bitten by an infected Aedes mosquito, the same type of mosquito that spreads dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

 WHO Director-General, Dr. Margaret Chan, has also declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).
This followed the recommendations of the panel of experts convened under the International Health Regulations on Wednesday.

This means that the disease constitutes a public health risk to other states through the international spread of the disease and requires a coordinated international response to address it.

According to the statement, the wide distribution of this type of mosquito means all the countries in the African region are at risk of Zika virus transmission.

 WHO noted that there is no specific treatment for the Zika virus disease, but advised it is important to be aware of its symptoms, which are fever, skin rashes, muscle and joint pains, conjunctivitis or red-eye, tiredness and headache.

These are normally mild, it added, and can be treated with common pain and fever medicines, rest and drinking plenty of clean water. Symptoms normally last for two to seven days.

Moeti urged all countries to intensify surveillance activities, enhance laboratory confirmation procedures, educate the public about the risks associated with the Zika virus, as well as encourage them to take every precaution against mosquito bites and monitor pregnant women for detection of microcephaly and neurological complications.