The UN health agency confirmed that Zika virus is no longer a global health emergency.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the Zika virus and related neurological complications among children is no longer an international emergency.
According to the officials of the United Nations health agency, they are preparing a longer-term response to the mosquito-borne virus that can result in severe neurological defects in newborns, especially the microcephaly.
But the WHO clarified that the move does not mean the agency is downgrading the threat of the Zika virus.
Based on record, the virus has spread across Latin America, the Caribbean and other parts of the world. Almost 30 countries have so far reported birth defects linked to Zika.
The officials of WHO also noted that the now lifted public health emergency of international concern was declared in February this year, after the Zika clusters appeared and a sharp increase in research was needed.
According to the officials of the health agenyc, the world has done an “urgent and coordinated response” due to emergency measures, however, the virus had continued to spread.
They also acknowledged that sustained research is needed to understand the many aspects of this disease and associated consequences.
“It is a significant and enduring public health challenge, but it no longer represents an emergency,” Dr David Heymann, who heads the WHO emergency committee on Zika.
She said it after the panel met for the fifth time this year.
“There was no downgrading of this,” Heymann added.
She said recommendations made in recent months were now being “internalized” at the Geneva-based agency.
“If anything, this has been escalated in importance by becoming activities that will be continued in the long-term in the World Health Organization,” he said.
Zika virus is spread by mosquitoes but also can be transmitted through sex. Most infected people don’t get sick but some of its symptoms include mild illness, with fever, rash and joint pain.
Researches have shown that it causes microcephaly, or shrunken heads, in newborn children whose mothers were infected.