Why is WHO more afraid of Zika than Ebola?

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global emergency for Zika disease, although no studies have demonstrated this virus causes minor head defects in newborns.

The last time the WHO declared a state of emergency was when the Ebola epidemic broke out in West Africa, but it was clear that the status of the two Ebola and Zika outbreaks was completely different.

Ebola outbreaks make people sick with vomiting, fever and hemorrhage quite clearly. This helps doctors identify signs of an infected person for inclusion in treatment and isolation centers.

If the patient dies, burial will be done carefully to avoid spreading the disease.

In other words, the Ebola epidemic has a clearer sign of recognition than Zika, which only makes about a fifth of people infected with symptoms like the flu and most people who do not go to the hospital. for examination.

Obviously, WHO has had to increase vigilance against new diseases that can easily spread without the patient's attention. Although Zika virus has not been proven to cause small head malformations in newborns, clinical diagnoses are biased toward this hypothesis.

Focusing resources on Zika disease is a necessary step for WHO.

In addition, WHO has learned from mistakes in the Ebola epidemic, when it received criticism due to the slow response to the epidemic.

In particular, the WHO has not been fully aware of the social and economic impact of the Ebola outbreak in Africa.

Only when the first American and European patients were infected with this disease, did WHO really take a drastic move.

Besides, the fact that Brazil is one of the most important emerging economies in the world, in the BRIC group and a member of the G20, and about to host the 2016 Olympics has made it more important for WHO to consider Zika epidemic. normal level.

Currently, the US, the world's leading economy has discovered the first case of Zika virus infection and more dangerous, this patient is infected through sexual contact rather than the usual Aedes mosquito route.

This proves that scientists have not been able to capture all the pathways that Zika virus can infect, not to mention making vaccines.

Before the world economy is still difficult, the US economy as well as many countries that may be affected by Zika epidemic may make the recovery process of global economic growth become slower.

Certainly the tourism industry, commercial transactions or many other businesses will be affected by concerns about the spread of Zika virus. More dangerous, the US economy, which is a leading force of global economic growth, may also be affected.

In this situation, raising the level of alarm to enhance people's caution as well as concentrating resources on Zika disease outbreak is a necessary step for WHO.