Brazil-type Zika confirmed in Africa for first time, WHO warns

Record ID: 102653

  • Title: Brazil-type Zika confirmed in Africa for first time, WHO warns
  • Date: 20th May 2016
  • Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (MAY 20, 2016) (REUTERS) UNITED NATIONS BUILDING WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) BRIEFING ONGOING VARIOUS OF JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) WHO REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR AFRICA, DR MATSHIDISO MOETI, SAYING: "We have received confirmation of the sequencing of the virus in Cabo Verde by the Institute Pasteur of Dakar in Senegal. It confirms that the Zika virus strain that is currently circulating in Cabo Verde is the same as the one circulating in the Americas, which is the Asian type. This is the first time that this strain of the Zika virus which has been shown to cause neurological disorders, microcephaly and the Guillain-Barre syndrome has been detected in Africa." U.N. SYMBOL U.N. STAFF (SOUNDBITE) (English) WHO REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR AFRICA DR MATSHIDISO MOETI, SAYING: "The findings are of concern because it is further proof that this strain is spreading beyond South America and is on the doorstep of Africa." U.N. STAFF JOURNALIST (SOUNDBITE) (English) WHO REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR AFRICA DR MATSHIDISO MOETI, SAYING: "As a first step, countries should heighten risk communication in order to raise the public's awareness of complications associated with Zika virus disease, and to promote protection at the individual level to avoid mosquito bites as well as sexual transmission of the virus." UNITED NATIONS BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 4th June 2016 15:22
  • Keywords: Zika Brazil Cape Verde Africa disease outbreak WHO
  • Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
  • City: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: Health/Medicine
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014IM5NIF
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Tests show an outbreak of Zika virus on the African island chain of Cape Verde is of the same strain as the one blamed for birth abnormalities and neurological disorders in Brazil, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Friday (May 20).
    "We have received confirmation of the sequencing of the virus in Cabo Verde by the Institute Pasteur of Dakar in Senegal. It confirms that the Zika virus strain that is currently circulating in Cabo Verde is the same as the one circulating in the Americas, which is the Asian type. This is the first time that this strain of the Zika virus which has been shown to cause neurological disorders, microcephaly and the Guillain-Barre syndrome has been detected in Africa", WHO regional director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti told reporters during a news briefing in Geneva.
    As of May 8, there have been there 7,557 suspected cases of Zika, of which 180 concerned pregnant women, since it was first detected on the island in October 2015. 19 of these cases have been confirmed so far, as well as 3 cases of microcephaly.
    The first case is believed to have been brought to Cape Verde by a person travelling from Brazil, with which it has historic ties. The Atlantic archipelago is around 570 kilometers west of Senegal.
    The WHO organization said they wouldn't recommend strict travel restrictions to stop the spread of the disease further into Africa, but advocated efforts to control mosquito numbers and stop people being bitten.
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