WHO: First detected African American Zika virus strain in Africa

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on May 20 that the Zika virus strain is linked to fetal malformations and neurological disorders that are raging in Latin America for the first time in Africa. .

Africa's head of Africa Matshidiso Moeti said the strain of Zika is present in Cape Verde island nation in the same strain as the raging virus in the Americas.

This is the first time that the Zika strain has been linked to fetal malformations and neurological disorders found in Africa. This finding raises concerns because it is more solid evidence that the spread of Zika has gone beyond the Americas and has reached the African gateway.

A young child with Zika virus-associated brain atrophy in Brazil.(Photo: THX / TTXVN).

WHO hopes this information will help African countries to re-evaluate the level of risk and adaptation as well as enhance preparation. According to WHO experts, the virus has arrived in Africa through a Brazilian tourist and spread here.

Discovered for the first time in Africa, Zika virus then spread to Asia and Latin America, becoming the strongest outbreak ever. Currently more than 50 countries and territories have recorded cases of infection.

Zika virus is transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, sex and blood transfusions with the most common symptoms of infection are fever, conjunctivitis, headache, muscle and joint pain, rash. So far, no vaccine has been prevented or drugs that specifically treat this virus.

Meanwhile, the number of pregnant women in the US infected with Zika virus has suddenly tripled due to changes in the calculation of cases of carrying this dangerous virus.

Earlier, US officials counted pregnant women with symptoms of Zika virus infection and positive for blood test results. However, in the new change, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will count all pregnant women with positive Zika virus blood test results, excluding symptoms. of this virus as before.

According to the new calculation, a total of 157 Zika pregnant women in 50 US states, up from 48 last week.