The last time WHO declared a public health emergency was
for the devastating Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which
killed more than 11,000 people.
The World Health Organization declared a global emergency
over the explosive spread of the Zika virus, which has been
linked to birth defects in the Americas, calling it an
“extraordinary event” that poses a public health threat to
other parts of the world.
The U.N. agency took the rare step despite a lack of
definitive evidence proving the mosquito-borne virus is
causing a surge in babies born with brain defects and
abnormally small heads in Brazil and following a 2013-14
outbreak in French Polynesia.
Monday’s emergency meeting of independent experts was
called in response to the spike in babies born with
microcephaly in Brazil since the virus was first found there
last year. Officials in French Polynesia also documented a
connection between Zika and neurological complications
when the virus was spreading there two years ago, at the
same time as dengue fever.
“After a review of the evidence, the committee advised that
the clusters of microcephaly and other neurological
complications constitute an extraordinary event and public
health threat to other parts of the world,” WHO Director-
General Dr. Margaret Chan said.
WHO, which was widely criticized for its sluggish response
to the 2014 Ebola crisis in West Africa, has been eager to
show its responsiveness this time. Despite dire warnings that
Ebola was out of control in mid-2014, WHO didn’t declare an
emergency until months later, after nearly 1,000 people had
died.
“If indeed, the scientific linkage between Zika and
microcephaly is established, can you imagine if we do not do
all this work now and wait until the scientific evidence
comes out?” Chan said. “Then people will say, ‘Why didn’t
you take action?'”
WHO estimates there could be up to 4 million cases of Zika
in the Americas in the next year, but no recommendations
were made to restrict travel or trade.
“It is important to understand, there are several measures
pregnant women can take,” Chan said. “If you can delay
travel and it does not affect your other family commitments,
it is something to consider.”
“If they need to travel, they can get advice from their
physician and take personal protective measures, like
wearing long sleeves and shirts and pants and using
mosquito repellent.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has advised pregnant
women to postpone visits to Brazil and other countries in the
region with Zika outbreaks, though officials say it’s unlikely
the virus could cause widespread problems in the U.S. On
Monday, health officials added four more destinations to a
list that now includes 28 locations, most of them in Latin
America and the Caribbean.
The last time WHO declared a public health emergency was
for the devastating Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which
killed more than 11,000 people. Similar declarations were
made for polio in 2013 and the 2009 swine flu pandemic.
Such emergency declarations are meant as an international
SOS signal and usually trigger increased money and efforts
to halt the outbreak, as well as prompting research into
possible treatments and vaccines. There are currently no
licensed treatments or vaccines for Zika.
WHO officials say it could be six to nine months before
science proves or disproves any connection between the
virus and babies born in Brazil or elsewhere with abnormally
small heads.
Zika was first identified in 1947 in Uganda but until last year,
it wasn’t believed to cause any serious effects; about 80
percent of infected people never experience symptoms. The
virus has also been linked to Guillain-Barre syndrome, which
causes muscle weakness and nerve problems.
Michael Osterholm, an infectious diseases expert at the
University of Minnesota, said it was still unclear how Zika
had evolved since it first emerged in Africa, but that even
minor genetic changes might have major consequences.
“It could have just been some point mutation (in the virus)
that has now made a big difference,” Osterholm said, adding
it would likely take years to curb the mosquito populations
capable of spreading Zika — and before local populations
gain enough immunity for the number of cases to fall.
Jimmy Whitworth, an infectious diseases expert at the
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said we
might soon see babies born elsewhere with malformed heads
as the virus becomes entrenched in other countries.
“It could be that we’re getting the strongest signal in Brazil,”
he said. “But having these cases occurring and pinning it to
Zika is tough.”
Whitworth said it was important for WHO to act quickly,
despite the lack of definitive evidence that Zika is
responsible for the surge in microcephaly cases.
“For situations like this, you have to essentially have a ‘no
regrets’ policy,” he said. “Maybe this will be a false alarm
when more information is available months later, but it’s
serious enough on the evidence we have right now that we
have to act.”
for the devastating Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which
killed more than 11,000 people.
The World Health Organization declared a global emergency
over the explosive spread of the Zika virus, which has been
linked to birth defects in the Americas, calling it an
“extraordinary event” that poses a public health threat to
other parts of the world.
The U.N. agency took the rare step despite a lack of
definitive evidence proving the mosquito-borne virus is
causing a surge in babies born with brain defects and
abnormally small heads in Brazil and following a 2013-14
outbreak in French Polynesia.
Monday’s emergency meeting of independent experts was
called in response to the spike in babies born with
microcephaly in Brazil since the virus was first found there
last year. Officials in French Polynesia also documented a
connection between Zika and neurological complications
when the virus was spreading there two years ago, at the
same time as dengue fever.
“After a review of the evidence, the committee advised that
the clusters of microcephaly and other neurological
complications constitute an extraordinary event and public
health threat to other parts of the world,” WHO Director-
General Dr. Margaret Chan said.
WHO, which was widely criticized for its sluggish response
to the 2014 Ebola crisis in West Africa, has been eager to
show its responsiveness this time. Despite dire warnings that
Ebola was out of control in mid-2014, WHO didn’t declare an
emergency until months later, after nearly 1,000 people had
died.
“If indeed, the scientific linkage between Zika and
microcephaly is established, can you imagine if we do not do
all this work now and wait until the scientific evidence
comes out?” Chan said. “Then people will say, ‘Why didn’t
you take action?'”
WHO estimates there could be up to 4 million cases of Zika
in the Americas in the next year, but no recommendations
were made to restrict travel or trade.
“It is important to understand, there are several measures
pregnant women can take,” Chan said. “If you can delay
travel and it does not affect your other family commitments,
it is something to consider.”
“If they need to travel, they can get advice from their
physician and take personal protective measures, like
wearing long sleeves and shirts and pants and using
mosquito repellent.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has advised pregnant
women to postpone visits to Brazil and other countries in the
region with Zika outbreaks, though officials say it’s unlikely
the virus could cause widespread problems in the U.S. On
Monday, health officials added four more destinations to a
list that now includes 28 locations, most of them in Latin
America and the Caribbean.
The last time WHO declared a public health emergency was
for the devastating Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which
killed more than 11,000 people. Similar declarations were
made for polio in 2013 and the 2009 swine flu pandemic.
Such emergency declarations are meant as an international
SOS signal and usually trigger increased money and efforts
to halt the outbreak, as well as prompting research into
possible treatments and vaccines. There are currently no
licensed treatments or vaccines for Zika.
WHO officials say it could be six to nine months before
science proves or disproves any connection between the
virus and babies born in Brazil or elsewhere with abnormally
small heads.
Zika was first identified in 1947 in Uganda but until last year,
it wasn’t believed to cause any serious effects; about 80
percent of infected people never experience symptoms. The
virus has also been linked to Guillain-Barre syndrome, which
causes muscle weakness and nerve problems.
Michael Osterholm, an infectious diseases expert at the
University of Minnesota, said it was still unclear how Zika
had evolved since it first emerged in Africa, but that even
minor genetic changes might have major consequences.
“It could have just been some point mutation (in the virus)
that has now made a big difference,” Osterholm said, adding
it would likely take years to curb the mosquito populations
capable of spreading Zika — and before local populations
gain enough immunity for the number of cases to fall.
Jimmy Whitworth, an infectious diseases expert at the
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said we
might soon see babies born elsewhere with malformed heads
as the virus becomes entrenched in other countries.
“It could be that we’re getting the strongest signal in Brazil,”
he said. “But having these cases occurring and pinning it to
Zika is tough.”
Whitworth said it was important for WHO to act quickly,
despite the lack of definitive evidence that Zika is
responsible for the surge in microcephaly cases.
“For situations like this, you have to essentially have a ‘no
regrets’ policy,” he said. “Maybe this will be a false alarm
when more information is available months later, but it’s
serious enough on the evidence we have right now that we
have to act.”
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