Zika virus is 'spreading explosively

GENEVA (AP):

Declaring that the Zika virus is "spreading explosively," the head of the World Health Organization announced that it will hold an emergency meeting of independent experts on Monday to decide if the virus outbreak should be declared an international health emergency.

At a special meeting held yesterday in Geneva, WHO's director-general Dr Margaret Chan said the virus, which has been linked to birth defects and neurological problems, is becoming more of a threat.

Chan said that although there was no definitive proof that the Zika virus was responsible for a spike in the number of babies being born with abnormally small heads in Brazil, "the level of alarm is extremely high". She also noted a possible relationship between Zika infection and Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can cause temporary paralysis.

"The possible links, only recently suspected, have rapidly changed the risk profile of Zika from a mild threat to one of alarming proportions. The increased incidence of microcephaly is particularly alarming as it places a heart-breaking burden on families and communities," Chan said.

The Zika virus was first detected in 1947 and for decades only caused mild disease, but Chan noted that "the situation today is dramatically different". According to the US Centers for Disease Control, the Zika virus is now in more than 20 countries, mostly in Central and South America. It is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which also spreads dengue and yellow fever.