Zika virus scare: 10 key developments

Zee Media Bureau

The Zika virus that has been rapidly spreading over the past few days, most prominently in Brazil, has now been reported to have been found in 21 countries in the Caribbean, North and South America.

The Zika virus disease, which is a mosquito-borne viral infection, has been linked to babies being born with underdeveloped brains.

Symptoms of Zika include – mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, normally lasting for 2-7 days.

Till date, there is no vaccine or medication to treat the Zika virus.

Here are some important developments that have taken place so far since the virus exploded in Brazil:

• Earlier this week, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the virus is likely to spread across nearly all of the Americas.
• Denmark has reported first Zika virus case after a Danish tourist returning from Latin America was found diagnosed with the virus. Two people returning from Haiti and Colombia to
  Switzerland were also diagnosed with the virus.
• Brazil continued to struggle with surging Zika virus with some 3,900 cases of infections being reported and over 300 confirmed.
• President Barack Obama on Tuesday called for the rapid development of tests, vaccines and treatments to fight the mosquito-transmitted Zika virus.
• US researchers documented for the first time the disease trajectory of Zika virus that started with nine positive patients and has now spread to more than 13,000 individuals in Colombia.
• As per BBC report, Latin America's largest airline, Grupo LATAM, has announced it is waiving cancellation or flight-change fees for pregnant women wanting to cancel flights to affected countries
• United Airlines to refund travel to regions hit with Zika virus.
• On Tuesday, Colombia issued alert over the Zika virus, which has already infected 13,800 people in the country.
• Puerto Rico health secretary confirmed 19 cases of the mosquito-borne Zika virus in the country.
• Tropical Singapore, already battling dengue fever, to introduce measures to control the risk of Zika virus.