sweep through South America during the last class , the Zika virus is thought to be responsible for thousands of baby born with birth defect , such as a striking spike in the report cases of microcephaly . Already detectedin North America , and with warning that it couldfind its way to Europethis summer , theWorld Health Organization ( WHO ) has confirmedthat the Brazilian strain of the virus has been notice in Africa for the first time .
“ The determination are of concern because it is further proof that the outbreak is disperse beyond South America and is on the doorsill of Africa,”explainsthe WHO ’s Regional Director for Africa , Dr. Matshidiso Moeti . “ This information will serve African countries to re - assess their point of danger , and adjust and increase their level of preparedness . ” She also send for for African nations toraise awarenessamong pregnant woman about the risk that Zika poses to their unborn fry , how to protect against getting bitten by the infected mosquitoes , and the potential for its intimate infection .
The announcement details how there are thought to have been over 7,500 suspected instance of the virus in Cabo Verde , the radical of islands off the west coast of Africa . This has included 180 pregnant women , while the WHO also reports that at least three babies have been born with microcephaly . Some expert , however , have suggestedthat as the virus has already been distribute in Africa at low tier , some groups may already have a natural immunity to the disease . Either way , the peril is too great to take , and preventative action mechanism should still be taken .
The news intend that Zika has basically endure full rope around the humanity . The computer virus was to begin with isolatedfrom a imprisoned rhesus macaque that was localise out in the Zika forest in Uganda in 1947 by scientists studying xanthous pyrexia . Instead , they discovered a new computer virus , which they named after the forest , and since then Zika has been make its room around the globe via India , Indonesia , and Malaysia , among many other area . The first major outbreak of the disease , however , only occurred in 2007 on the island of Yap , part of the Federated States of Micronesia .
Another outbreakoccurred in French Polynesia between 2013 and 2014 , although this was only retrospectively discovered after the link between the virus and microcephaly and Guillian - Barré syndrome was established during the early days of the current eruption that is hap across much of South and Latin America . At the remnant of 2013 , there was a stiletto heel in the number of babies born with these congenital disfigurement in Gallic Polynesia , which is now acknowledge to be due to the virus .
The current outbreakhas been run low since March 2 , 2015 , when nearly 7,000 cases of suspected infection were reported to the WHO by Brazil . Since then , more and more casing have been reported from more and more countries . Now it seems that the virus is on the threshold of Africa , where it could potentially have serious impacts , specially in state where access to wellness caution and assist is difficult .
