Health worker
checking the installation of an anti-mosquito device at the entrance of a
house. Such devices may help to trap mosquitoes, flies and insects. Photo:
WHO/TDR/S. Lim
The United Nations health agency today urged
countries across the South-East Asia region to continue to take decisive action
to prevent, detect and respond to Zika virus, following news that Thailand has
confirmed two cases of Zika-related microcephaly.
“Zika virus infection is a serious threat to
the health and well-being of a pregnant woman and her unborn child. Countries
across the region must continue to strengthen measures aimed at preventing,
detecting and responding to Zika virus transmission,” said Dr. Poonam Khetrapal
Singh, Regional Director for the South-East Asia Region of the UN World Health
Organization (WHO).
The agency said that the confirmed cases of
Zika-related microcephaly in Thailand, along with other neurological disorders,
can occur when a neonate has been exposed to Zika virus in utero.
“Thai authorities have been active in
detecting and responding to Zika virus,” Dr. Khetrapal Singh said. “Thailand’s
diligence underscores the commitment of health authorities to the health and
well-being of the Thai public, and provides a positive example to be emulated,”
the expert added.
The presence of Zika virus in the WHO
South-East Asia region has been documented in recent years, including in
Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Maldives and Thailand.
Since a Public Health Emergency of
International Concern was declared in February, WHO has been working with
countries across the region to strengthen Zika virus and birth-defect
surveillance; enhance vector surveillance and control; scale up laboratory capacity;
and amplify risk communication and community engagement. All countries now have
the laboratory capacity to conduct Zika virus testing, as well as to assess and
identify microcephaly cases, the agency said.
In addition to official efforts, WHO has also
been urging householders and community groups to be on the frontlines of
mosquito control.
“Controlling mosquito populations is crucial
to diminishing Zika virus transmission, as well as the transmission of other
vector-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya. Alongside government
efforts, householders are encouraged to disrupt standing water that can gather
in gutters, pot plants and spare or discarded tires, and to dispose of
household waste in sealed plastic bags,” Dr. Khetrapal Singh said.
WHO also urges pregnant women as well as the
rest of the general public to take precautions to limit mosquito-human contact,
including wearing long-sleeved, light-coloured clothing; using mosquito
repellent; sleeping under a bed net; and fitting windows and doors with screens
wherever possible.
Based on available evidence, WHO does not
recommend trade or travel restrictions with countries, areas and/or territories
with Zika virus transmission. Travelers to areas with Zika virus outbreaks
should seek up-to-date advice on potential risks and appropriate measures to
reduce the possibility of exposure to mosquito bites and sexual transmission of
Zika, the agency said.
Discarded motor vehicle tyres are fertile breeding grounds for Aedes
aegypti mosquitoes,
carriers of the Zika virus. Photo: PAHO
Further, WHO stressed that pregnant women
should be advised not to travel to areas with an ongoing Zika virus outbreak.
Pregnant women’s sexual partners living in or returning from areas with Zika
virus outbreaks should ensure safer sex or abstain from sex for the duration of
their partner’s pregnancy.
For regions with active transmission of Zika
virus, WHO recommends correct counselling and that women be offered a full
range of contraceptive methods to enable informed choice regarding whether and
when to become pregnant. WHO recommends safer sex or abstinence for a period of
six months for men and women who are returning from areas of active
transmission, regardless of whether they are trying to conceive.
Earlier this month, WHO said that the
infectious disease, and its associated congenital and other neurological
disorders, continues to be an international public health emergency due to
continuing geographic expansion and considerable gaps in understanding of the
virus and its consequences.
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