World Health Organization Issues New Travel Advisory on Zika Virus

BY ALLISON KOZICHAROW AND BERNICE BORN

 

 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has just released fresh travel recommendations for pregnant women to countries affected by the Zika virus. The WHO guidelines caution travelers to stay alert about the latest news about Zika and to take steps to protect themselves against mosquito bites during their trip. The WHO warnings appear amid evidence that the illness can also be transmitted sexually and not just through the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

 

While the virus itself is asymptomatic to 80% of its sufferers, it is the suspected link between Zika and birth defects such as microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome that has caused a global health emergency. This probable link of the Zika virus to microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome could be confirmed within weeks, according to the WHO in a recent news story.

 

Before the Zika virus was widely known as a serious health threat, especially to pregnant mothers and their babies, WiRED had already written about it and developed health-education modules to inform people in the affected areas about the risk. WiRED’s Zika modules describe the disease and emphasize prevention.

 

WiRED’s staff keeps careful watch on the spread of this illness and provides alerts and education to help affected communities respond appropriately. See WiRED’s home page for Zika updates and information.