Zika outrage erupts over fake media reports
ZAMBIANS are at foreign media claims that the country has a zika virus threat which has forced visiting Prince Harry’s wife, Meghan, not to accompany him.
Reacting to the British publication SUN Newspaper that the threat of Zika Virus had stopped Prince Harry’s wife, Meghan, from travelling to Zambia, Zambia National Public Health Institute ( ZNPHI) Director Victor Mukonka said the foreign media reports are false and misleading.
ZAMBIANS are outraged at foreign media claims that the country has a zika virus threat which has forced visiting Prince Harry’s wife, Meghan, not to accompany him.
Reacting to th§e British publication SUN Newspaper that threat of Zika Virus had stopped Prince Harry’s wife, Meghan, from travelling to Zambia, Zambia National Public Health Institute ( ZNPHI) Director Victor Mukonka said the foreign media reports are false and misleading.
And the Center for Disease Control and Prevention - (CDC) has revealed that there has never been a case of Zika in Zambia.
Zambia is not on the list of countries with the zika virus published by the CDC.
Prince Harry is expected in the country today, but his pregnant wife Meghan has pulled out of the visit over alleged Zika Virus concerns.
But Dr Mukonka in an interview with Daily Nation said that the couple and the foreign publication were supposed to verify with the Zambian authority over the alleged matter.
“No, those are false reports. We do not have any outbreak of Zika virus in the country. Maybe they heard of another country that has an outbreak but not here. There is completely nothing in the country,” Dr Mukonka said.
Dr Mukonka said if the country had the outbreak of the said disease, the World Health Organisation (WHO) would have announced such a development.
“Let them go on the WHO website they will surely find that there is no such kind of information. WHO updates its websites about the happenings of every country on health,” Dr Mukonka said.
Dr Mukonka further stated that the Institution’s National Surveillance and Intelligence Programme does not indicate that the country has any outbreak of a deadly disease.
Dr Mukonka said that the Institute will today give a comprehensive statement to update the nation over the matter.
Zika virus disease is a mosquito-borne viral infection that primarily occurs in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Most people infected with Zika virus have no signs and symptoms, while others report mild fever, rash and muscle pain. Other signs and symptoms may include headache, red eyes (conjunctivitis) and a general feeling of discomfort.
Zika virus infections during pregnancy have been linked to miscarriage and can cause microcephaly, a potentially fatal congenital brain condition.
Zika virus also may cause other neurological disorders such as Guillain-Barre syndrome.
No, those are false reports. We do not have any outbreak of Zika virus in the country. Maybe they heard of another country that has an outbreak but not here. There is completely nothing in the country.” — Dr Mukonka.