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 The World Health Organisation warned Wednesday that the Zika
outbreak would likely worsen before any relief comes to the
countries besieged by the virus. Zika has been linked to thousands
of birth defects in Brazil.
At least 34 countries, mostly in the Americas, have active Zika
outbreaks and the virus is expected to spread. Brazil has been hit
the hardest, followed by Colombia.
Nemecek told reporters that the virus had been detected in a man
returning from Martinique and in a woman who traveled to the
Dominican Republic. Their conditions do not require hospitalization,
he said.
"This is not a case of an infection having spread in the Czech
Republic. It is a disease brought from the areas where we
recommended that people not travel," Nemecek said.
The Czech authorities have recommended avoiding the most heavily
affected countries, especially pregnant women and children.
WHO declared the Zika outbreak linked to thousands of birth defects
in Brazil an international health emergency on Feb. 1. |
Much remains unknown about Zika, including whether the virus
actually causes microcephaly, a condition marked by unusually small
heads that can result in developmental problems.
(Reporting by Robert Muller; Writing by Michael Kahn; Editing by
Raissa Kasolowsky)
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