THE ZIKA virus could travel east to Europe this summer, says the World Health Organization (WHO). The likelihood of an outbreak is low to moderate. Areas most at risk are those where Aedes mosquitoes could spread the virus, such as the Black Sea coast of Russia and Georgia and the island of Madeira. Countries with a moderate risk include France, Spain, Italy and Greece, while the risk in the UK is low.
The WHO is calling on countries to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and to make sure that people – particularly pregnant women – have information on the potential harmful consequences of the disease.
Zika has been linked to a rise in brain defects in babies and the virus has been seen in more than 50 countries during this outbreak.
Professor Jimmy Whitworth, at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, says the risk of Zika spreading to Europe was real and called for holidaymakers to heed health advice. ‘The main mosquito vector for Zika, Aedes aegypti, is only found in Madeira and around the Black Sea, but another mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is more widespread and is capable of transmitting Zika, although not very efficiently.
‘Countries in Southern Europe, including France and Italy, need to be especially vigilant and it's important that holidaymakers follow public health advice while abroad, including taking all the necessary precautions to avoid getting bitten.
‘This is especially so for pregnant women, or women planning to become pregnant, travelling to areas where there is Zika, as there is now a proven link with microcephaly and other birth defects.’
Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
The WHO is calling on countries to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and to make sure that people – particularly pregnant women – have information on the potential harmful consequences of the disease.
Zika has been linked to a rise in brain defects in babies and the virus has been seen in more than 50 countries during this outbreak.
Professor Jimmy Whitworth, at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, says the risk of Zika spreading to Europe was real and called for holidaymakers to heed health advice. ‘The main mosquito vector for Zika, Aedes aegypti, is only found in Madeira and around the Black Sea, but another mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is more widespread and is capable of transmitting Zika, although not very efficiently.
‘Countries in Southern Europe, including France and Italy, need to be especially vigilant and it's important that holidaymakers follow public health advice while abroad, including taking all the necessary precautions to avoid getting bitten.
‘This is especially so for pregnant women, or women planning to become pregnant, travelling to areas where there is Zika, as there is now a proven link with microcephaly and other birth defects.’
Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
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