The outbreak of Zika virus has been declared an international emergency by the World Health Organisation.
At the first meeting of the Emergency Committee (EC) convened by the Director-General, representatives from Brazil, France, the United States of America and El Salvador provided information on a potential association between microcephaly and/or neurological disorders and Zika virus disease
The Committee highlighted the importance of aggressive measures to reduce infection with Zika virus, particularly among pregnant women and women of childbearing age.
While the virus is not thought to be life threatening in adults and is unlikely to spread in Europe given that it is mainly transmitted by mosquitoes, it is cause for concern for pregnant travellers.
Research suggest that newborns of mothers who had Zika virus infection during pregnancy are at risk of developing microcephaly, a congenital condition associated with incomplete brain development.
While the WHO said there should be no restrictions on travel or trade with countries or areas with Zika virus transmission, travellers to those areas should be provided with up to date advice on potential risks and appropriate measures to reduce the possibility of exposure to mosquito bites. It also caled for an international coordinated response to the outbreak.
As Australia confirms two cases of the virus have been detected in travellers who arrived in Sydney from the Caribbean, it is thought up to 1.5million people could be affected in Brazil, where more than 4,000 cases of microcephaly have been recorded in newborns.
Female athletes and fans planning on travelling to the Olympic Games in Rio this summer have been warned to consider the risks.
Click here for a full list of destinations to avoid if you are pregnant. For more information, see the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.
Main image: Dejailson Arruda holds his daughter Luiza at their house in Santa Cruz do Capibaribe, Pernambuco state, Brazil. Luiza was born in October with a rare condition, known as microcephaly. Luiza’s mother Angelica Pereira was infected with the Zika virus after a mosquito bite. (AP Photo)
