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rassimian
United Kingdom
168 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Jan 2016 : 14:55:20
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You may well have heard of the Zika virus through news stories but there is a real danger that this could now be a threat to tourists and the general population of the Gambia.
The Zika virus is mosquito transmitted and has been identified in equatorial Africa as well as Asia, Pacific, Polynesia and South America. It is transmitted by the Andes group of mosquitos although it is not yet known whether other mosquitos can carry it.
Pregnant women are in the highest risk category and there is growing evidence of a causal link between Zika virus infection in pregnancy and births of a congenital disorder called microcephaly. There is currently no vaccine or treatment for Zika virus. Brazil is experiencing a large growth in cases of microcephaly with 4000 reported cases but an increase in rates has been seen in Polynesia. Zika transmission is ongoing in Brazil, Columbia, Mexico, Venezuela and across the Americas.
Health authorities are suggesting that women in any stage of pregnancy should reconsider travel to these areas and to postpone becoming pregnant.
The issue for anyone visiting Gambia or for those living there is that the Zika virus has been identified as having been transmitted by mosquitos in Senegal. It is therefore highly likely that Gambia also has the Andes mosquito. Not only that but it has been tentatively suggested but not 100% proved that this virus could be transmitted sexually or via blood. The symptoms may not appear for at least 3 months.
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Momodou
Denmark
11841 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2016 : 15:06:10
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WHO: Zika virus disease: Questions and answers
Online Q&A
20 January 2016
Where does Zika virus occur?
Zika virus occurs in tropical areas with large mosquito populations, and is known to circulate in Africa, the Americas, Southern Asia and Western Pacific.
Zika virus was discovered in 1947, but for many years only sporadic human cases were detected in Africa and Southern Asia. In 2007, the first documented outbreak of Zika virus disease occurred in the Pacific. Since 2013, cases and outbreaks of the disease have been reported from the Western Pacific, the Americas and Africa. Given the expansion of environments where mosquitoes can live and breed, facilitated by urbanisation and globalisation, there is potential for major urban epidemics of Zika virus disease to occur globally.
Read More.............
Source: http://www.who.int/features/qa/zika/en/
Fact Sheet: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/zika/en/
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11841 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2016 : 11:21:07
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Scientists: More research needed into Zika-microcephaly link
By JENNY BARCHFIELD and MIKE STOBBE
Associated Press
Jan 28, 1:43 AM EST
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- The release of new figures apparently finding fewer cases of microcephaly in Brazil than first feared is adding force to calls for more research into the link between the rare birth defect and the spreading Zika virus.
Health experts have been looking at 4,180 suspected cases of microcephaly reported since October in Brazil, where authorities said the birth defect could be linked to the virus and announced that 220,000 military personnel were being deployed to help eradicate the Aedes aegypti mosquito that transmits Zika.
But on Wednesday, Health Ministry officials said they had done a more intense analysis of more than 700 of those cases, confirming 270 cases and ruling out 462 others.
What this means is hard to say, according to some experts. It does not answer whether the tropical Zika virus is causing the babies to have unusually small heads. Nor does it really tell us how big the problem is.
Read More...............
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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sab
United Kingdom
912 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2016 : 10:00:46
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Very interesting and informative - thank u. |
The world would be a poorer place if it was peopled by children whose parents risked nothing in the cause of social justice, for fear of personal loss. (Joe Slovo - African revolutionary) |
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Momodou
Denmark
11841 Posts |
Posted - 01 Feb 2016 : 21:29:13
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http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2016/emergency-committee-zika-microcephaly/en/
WHO Director-General summarizes the outcome of the Emergency Committee on Zika
WHO statement on the first meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee on Zika virus and observed increase in neurological disorders and neonatal malformations
1 February 2016
I convened an Emergency Committee, under the International Health Regulations, to gather advice on the severity of the health threat associated with the continuing spread of Zika virus disease in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Committee met today by teleconference.
In assessing the level of threat, the 18 experts and advisers looked in particular at the strong association, in time and place, between infection with the Zika virus and a rise in detected cases of congenital malformations and neurological complications.
The experts agreed that a causal relationship between Zika infection during pregnancy and microcephaly is strongly suspected, though not yet scientifically proven. All agreed on the urgent need to coordinate international efforts to investigate and understand this relationship better.
The experts also considered patterns of recent spread and the broad geographical distribution of mosquito species that can transmit the virus.
The lack of vaccines and rapid and reliable diagnostic tests, and the absence of population immunity in newly affected countries were cited as further causes for concern.
After a review of the evidence, the Committee advised that the recent cluster of microcephaly cases and other neurological disorders reported in Brazil, following a similar cluster in French Polynesia in 2014, constitutes an “extraordinary event” and a public health threat to other parts of the world.
In their view, a coordinated international response is needed to minimize the threat in affected countries and reduce the risk of further international spread.
Members of the Committee agreed that the situation meets the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
I have accepted this advice.
I am now declaring that the recent cluster of microcephaly cases and other neurological disorders reported in Brazil, following a similar cluster in French Polynesia in 2014, constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
A coordinated international response is needed to improve surveillance, the detection of infections, congenital malformations, and neurological complications, to intensify the control of mosquito populations, and to expedite the development of diagnostic tests and vaccines to protect people at risk, especially during pregnancy.
The Committee found no public health justification for restrictions on travel or trade to prevent the spread of Zika virus.
At present, the most important protective measures are the control of mosquito populations and the prevention of mosquito bites in at-risk individuals, especially pregnant women.
Source: WHO |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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NEW HEALTH THREAT TO GAMBIA
