WHO announces the global emergency of Zika virus

The Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) calls Zika to cause small head disease as an "abnormal event", requiring a quick coordination reaction of all humanity.

Zika virus has officially become an emergency public health case and placed in the same category as Ebola, BBC quoted WHO. Zika is suspected of being involved in cerebral atrophy, which causes babies to be born with parts of the brain that do not develop or develop abnormally. The research and aid will be deployed to prevent virus infection.

A Brazilian baby has a small head disorder suspected to be caused by Zika virus.(Photo: BBC).

Since October 2015, Brazil has recorded more than 4,000 small-head cases. Dr. Margaret Chan, director of WHO calls Zika "an unusual event" , requiring timely coordination of all humanity. "Now, I would like to announce that the outbreak of microcephaly and other neurological abnormalities reported in Latin America is an emergency that needs international attention," she said at the meeting.

Between the complicated development of Zika, WHO confirmed it was time to act. Last year, the organization faced heavy criticism for waiting too long to announce an Ebola emergency.

Director Chan said the immediate priority is to protect pregnant women and their children from infection and control the type of mosquito that spreads the virus. She recommended that women consider delaying travel to areas affected by Zika, consult a doctor if they are living in the area with the virus and protect themselves from mosquito bites.

In Vietnam, the Ministry of Health last week also warned that Zika virus can completely penetrate into our country because mosquitoes carrying viruses are also species that spread dengue fever. The Ministry of Health has raised concerns about small-scale diseases that threaten public health. In order to control Zika virus, the ministry asked to expand the surveillance network, build diagnostic guidelines for treatment and enhance patients' body temperature screening.

Zika virus is transmitted through mosquitoes and there is no cure. The only way to prevent the disease is to avoid mosquito bites. WHO warns that the virus is likely to "boom rapidly" in most American countries. More than 20 countries, including Brazil, have detected cases. Expression of Zika is rash, joint muscle pain, headache, conjunctivitis; incubation period 3-12 days but most patients do not show symptoms. The mode of transmission is mainly through mosquitoes, which can be passed through mother's blood to the child or rarely seen by sex. The virus also leads to Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare paralysis disorder. Subjects most threatened by Zika are pregnant women and babies in the abdomen.