The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that it already created an emergency team to address an anticipated "explosive" spread of the Zika virus. This came on the heels of an emergency committee convened by the world health body on Monday.
The team was revealed Thursday by Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO director general. The sudden interest in the Zika virus was triggered by its possible relationship with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a condition that can cause paralysis. "The possible links, only recently suspected, have rapidly changed the risk profile of Zika from a mild threat to one of alarming proportions," Chan was quoted in the WRAL report.
Chan further cited four factors why the WHO is increasing concerned about the virus. The first its link to birth defects and brain damage. Aside from the fear of an explosive spread, WHO is also wary of about the lack of immunity in the affected populations and the dearth in vaccines and facilities for treatments.
The creation of Zika emergency team also stems from concerns that if the WHO did not act swiftly, the virus - which some experts believe have pandemic potential - could cost thousands of lives similar to what happened during the previous Ebola outbreak, BBC reported.
The Zika virus was first reported in 1947 but it was considered mild and it never had a history of massive spread. Even today, millions who contracted the disease are unaware of their condition because it has few symptoms, HNGN previously reported. However, it is blamed for birth defects and brain damage, particularly the case called microcephaly.
