Zika virus ‘highly likely’ to spread across Asia: WHO

Zika infections were "highly likely" to keep spreading across Asia, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced.

>>IANS/bdnews24.com
Published : 11 Oct 2016, 05:10 AM
Updated : 11 Oct 2016, 05:10 AM

WHO Director Margaret Chan on Tuesday said experts were still looking for ways to deal with the virus, the BBC reported.

"Unfortunately, scientists do not yet have answers to many critical questions," she told an annual regional WHO meeting in the Philippines capital, Manila.

Reuters file photo

Hundreds of cases of the virus were reported in Singapore while two cases of Zika-linked microcephaly have already been confirmed in Thailand.

Zika generally has mild effects but is more dangerous for pregnant women as it has been linked to severe birth defects, including the brain deformation microcephaly.

According to the WHO, the mosquito-borne virus has been detected in 70 countries worldwide so far.