The Zika virus is spreading at lightning speed. Transmitted by the bites of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, it is causing much concern in Latin America and is now attacking Europe. This virus, similar to Dengue and Chikungunya and against which there is no preventive vaccine, has already established itself in Brazil, the most affected countryfrom South America. It “will continue to expand” to the entire American continent, with the exception of Canada and Chile, warned the World Health Organization (WHO), quoted by AFP. Sign of the rapid expansion on the American continent, a case has already been detected in Costa Rica. This is a 25-year-old man infected during a trip to Colombia.
In Latin America, the concern is such that the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have advised pregnant women to avoid traveling to about 20 countries in South America and of the Caribbean. In these countries affected by the virus, health authorities have even taken care to advise women against getting pregnant.
Babies are most at risk from the virus. Zika causes complications on the brain development of fetuses and infants. Among the congenital malformations, several cases of microcephaly (too small brain) have been observed.
Europe, a new target
Europe is not spared by the virus. A Danish tourist who traveled to South and Central America was infected on his return to Denmark. This case joins other European tourists also infected during a trip to South America in recent days. Three Britons and ten Dutch were also said to have been infected.
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