Birth defect virus ‘could infect 4m around the world’
A DEVASTATING virus thought to cause miscarriages and birth defects is ‘spreading explosively’ and has become a health risk of ‘alarming proportions’, the World Health Organisation warned yesterday.
It said the Zika virus, which is spread by mosquitoes, could infect four million people worldwide this year – and the organisation may need to declare a global emergency on the scale of the ebola crisis.
The virus, for which there is no vaccine, is suspected of being responsible for the births of 4,000 babies in Brazil with abnormally small skulls.
It is feared that the disease could create a ‘heart-rending burden on families’ whose children are born with microcephaly – a small head, an underdeveloped brain and mental disability.
The disease was first identified in Uganda in 1947, but has suddenly become rampant in South America and the Caribbean.
Five Britons have caught it travelling in South America, and British women have been told by Public Health England (PHE) to consider avoiding areas where it is active.
Experts fear that the virus could spread to southern US states such as Florida – a popular destination for more than one million
‘The level of alarm is extremely high’
British holidaymakers every year. More than £1.25billion was wiped from the value of London-listed travel companies yesterday as concerns about the impact of the Zika virus spread around the world.
The WHO has set up an emergency committee on how to deal with the crisis.
Director-general Margaret Chan said the organisation was ‘ deeply concerned’ and ‘the level of alarm is extremely high’.
She added: ‘A causal relationship between Zika virus infection and birth malformations and neurological syndromes has not yet been established, but is strongly suspected. The possible links, only recently suspected, have rapidly changed the risk profile of Zika, from a mild threat to one of alarming proportions.
‘The increased incidence of microcephaly is particularly alarming, as it places a heart-breaking burden on families and communities.’
She said the WHO feared a further international spread of the virus. Current weather conditions are also expected to increase the mosquito population in many areas.
Dr Dipti Patel, of Britain’s National Health Network and Travel Centre, said: ‘ All travellers, especially pregnant women going to an area with active Zika virus transmission, should ensure they seek travel health advice from their GP or a travel clinic well in advance.
‘We strongly advise all travellers to avoid mosquito bites and urge pregnant women to consider avoiding travel to areas reporting Zika transmission.’
Brazil has sought to play down the threat to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro this August – during Brazil’s winter, which potentially limits the danger.
Countries with confirmed cases include Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Suriname, and Venezuela. Parents-to-be planning romantic holidays before their baby is born – so-called baby-mooners – have begun to cancel flights to the regions affected.
Travel firms are offering refunds and cancelling flights to South America and passengers have started cancelling holidays for fear of catching the virus.
Cruise firms including Londonlisted Carnival are allowing pregnant women to reschedule their journeys if they have booked a cruise to a destination where a Zika health warning is in effect.
British Airways and other airlines have let pregnant women change or delay their bookings free of charge.
One travel expert said: ‘This is a serious issue. But the industry has been through this before, with everything from SARS to ebola.’ Dr Hilary Kirkbride, of PHE, said: ‘While we may expect small numbers of Zika infections in travellers returning to the UK, the risk to the wider population is negligible as the mosquito is not found in the UK.’
Symptoms for those infected may include fever, joint pain, itching, rash, red eyes, headache, muscle pain and eye pain.