Pathfinder
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Zika virus link to microcephaly could take 6 months to show, WHO says
CBC News Posted: Feb 19, 2016 10:33 AM ET Last Updated: Feb 19, 2016 10:37 AM ET
The World Health Organization says it could take four to six months to say with certainty whether the Zika virus is associated with the birth defect microcephaly.
At a news conference in Geneva on Friday, Dr. Bruce Aylward, WHO's executive director of outbreaks and health emergencies, said causation has not been proved, but they continue to proceed as if the association is casual or "guilty until proven innocent" for both microcephaly and Guillain-Barr? syndrome, a rare disorder of muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis.
Aylward said they are getting more information showing a stronger association between microcephaly, characterized by an abnormally small head and incomplete brain development at times, and infection with the virus. The balance will probably tip once women in Colombia and other countries give birth, meaning mid-summer at the latest.
"A lot can be done in terms of reducing the intensity of Zika transmission and the accumulating evidence is that this has got to be done and done very, very urgently, because there is a very real possibility that this virus could be responsible for some of the horrific consequences we've been talking about in terms of children affected by this disease," he said.
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http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/zika-who-1.3455082
CBC News Posted: Feb 19, 2016 10:33 AM ET Last Updated: Feb 19, 2016 10:37 AM ET
The World Health Organization says it could take four to six months to say with certainty whether the Zika virus is associated with the birth defect microcephaly.
At a news conference in Geneva on Friday, Dr. Bruce Aylward, WHO's executive director of outbreaks and health emergencies, said causation has not been proved, but they continue to proceed as if the association is casual or "guilty until proven innocent" for both microcephaly and Guillain-Barr? syndrome, a rare disorder of muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis.
Aylward said they are getting more information showing a stronger association between microcephaly, characterized by an abnormally small head and incomplete brain development at times, and infection with the virus. The balance will probably tip once women in Colombia and other countries give birth, meaning mid-summer at the latest.
"A lot can be done in terms of reducing the intensity of Zika transmission and the accumulating evidence is that this has got to be done and done very, very urgently, because there is a very real possibility that this virus could be responsible for some of the horrific consequences we've been talking about in terms of children affected by this disease," he said.
...
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/zika-who-1.3455082
