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Zika outbreak fuelled by mosquito control failure, says WHO boss | Zika outbreak fuelled by mosquito control failure, says WHO boss |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The spread of Zika is the price being paid for a massive policy failure on mosquito control, says World Health Organization leader Margaret Chan. | The spread of Zika is the price being paid for a massive policy failure on mosquito control, says World Health Organization leader Margaret Chan. |
Speaking at the agency's annual World Health Assembly, Dr Chan said experts had "dropped the ball" in the 1970s with regards to getting a handle on disease-carrying insects. | Speaking at the agency's annual World Health Assembly, Dr Chan said experts had "dropped the ball" in the 1970s with regards to getting a handle on disease-carrying insects. |
More than 60 countries and territories now have continuing Zika transmission. | More than 60 countries and territories now have continuing Zika transmission. |
Most recently, the infection, spread by mosquito bites, reached Africa. | Most recently, the infection, spread by mosquito bites, reached Africa. |
Experts predict the same strain could reach Europe in the summer. | Experts predict the same strain could reach Europe in the summer. |
The virus is thought to cause serious birth defects during pregnancy and has been declared a global public health emergency. | The virus is thought to cause serious birth defects during pregnancy and has been declared a global public health emergency. |
According to Dr Chan, outbreaks that become emergencies always reveal specific weaknesses in affected countries and illuminate the fault lines in our collective preparedness. | According to Dr Chan, outbreaks that become emergencies always reveal specific weaknesses in affected countries and illuminate the fault lines in our collective preparedness. |
"Zika reveals an extreme consequence of the failure to provide universal access to sexual and family planning services," she said. | "Zika reveals an extreme consequence of the failure to provide universal access to sexual and family planning services," she said. |
Dr Chan added that Latin America and the Caribbean, which have been hit hard by Zika, have the highest proportion of unintended pregnancies in the world. | Dr Chan added that Latin America and the Caribbean, which have been hit hard by Zika, have the highest proportion of unintended pregnancies in the world. |
More on the Zika crisis: | |
Microcephaly: 'It's not the end of the world' Life for a girl who has the condition | Microcephaly: 'It's not the end of the world' Life for a girl who has the condition |
What you need to know Key questions answered about the virus and its spread | What you need to know Key questions answered about the virus and its spread |
Travel advice Countries affected and what you should do | Travel advice Countries affected and what you should do |
The mosquito behind spread of virus What we know about the insect | The mosquito behind spread of virus What we know about the insect |
Abortion dilemma Laws and practices in Catholic Latin America | Abortion dilemma Laws and practices in Catholic Latin America |
Above all, she said the spread of Zika was "the price being paid for a massive policy failure that dropped the ball on mosquito control in the 1970s". | Above all, she said the spread of Zika was "the price being paid for a massive policy failure that dropped the ball on mosquito control in the 1970s". |
Eradication campaigns were successful in the Americas with 18 countries getting rid of the insect by 1962. | Eradication campaigns were successful in the Americas with 18 countries getting rid of the insect by 1962. |
But insecticide resistance plus a lack of political will led to the Aedes aegypti mosquito rebounding. | But insecticide resistance plus a lack of political will led to the Aedes aegypti mosquito rebounding. |
"With no vaccines and no reliable and widely available diagnostic tests, to protect women of childbearing age, all we can offer is advice. | "With no vaccines and no reliable and widely available diagnostic tests, to protect women of childbearing age, all we can offer is advice. |
"Avoid mosquito bites. Delay pregnancy. Do not travel to areas with ongoing transmission," said Dr Chan. | "Avoid mosquito bites. Delay pregnancy. Do not travel to areas with ongoing transmission," said Dr Chan. |
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