UK flights sprayed to halt the spread of zika virus

PLANES flying to the UK from countries hit by the zika virus will be sprayed with insecticide to stop mosquitos bringing it here, officials said yesterday. The move came as Spain reported the first case in Europe of a pregnant woman diagnosed with the virus.

Florida, a tourism hotspot for Britons, yesterday declared a health emergency, with nine zika cases detected in four counties.

The virus is feared to leave babies with abnormally small skulls and brain damage. It has been linked to 4,000 cases of such microcephaly in Brazil alone.

Flights from all countries in South America and the Caribbean with confirmed zika outbreaks will be sprayed.

The World Health Organisation has warned that Europe could be hit by zika as mosquitos capable of carrying it are found in the

‘Florida declares health emergency’

south of the continent – raising fears of the virus affecting holidaymakers in the Med.

But the DfH said zika was ‘extremely unlikely’ to breed and survive in lower UK temperatures. Health Minister Jane Ellison said: ‘Disinsection is a highly precautionary measure to reduce the risk to passengers during flights to the UK. The risk to the UK population is extremely low.’

Disinsection involves using a fast-acting insecticide just before take- off, with passengers on board. The WHO, which has declared zika a global health emergency, has found no evidence of the sprays harming people.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said pregnant women who have visited zika-hit areas will have extra ultrasound scans to check for abnormalities.

Mothers with affected babies will be offered an abortion.

Spanish offi cials said t he infected woman had recently returned from Colombia. It is thought she picked up zika there.