The Zika virus crisis has been gathering pace over the last few days, with the illness having been recorded in Germany and Denmark in the last week.
The mosquito-borne illness which is linked to the birth defect microcephaly (babies born with unusually small heads) first arrived in Brazil in 2014, and due to the poor healthcare system there, has spread rapidly in the last two years.
It was announced by the World Health Organisation yesterday that the relationship between the virus and unborn children being affected by microcephaly can’t be ignored. Due to the lack of vaccinations and rapid spread of the virus, a Public Health Emergency of National Concern has been announced.
The WHO are currently trying to control mosquito populations and prevent the occurrence of bites in pregnant women, who are most vulnerable to the negative effects of Zika virus.
Many people are unaware they have been infected, but symptoms may include joint pain, itching, muscle pain, and eye pain. According to The Independent, men in the UK have been advised to wear condoms for a month if they are returning from a Zika-affected territory.
