Search Here

Even as the Zika virus spreads explosively, the World Health Organization (WHO) creates an emergency team to address the spread after an emergency committee was called by the world health body on Monday.

Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO director-general, revealed that Zika might be linked with the Guillain-Barre syndrome that leads to 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.

The virus spread is affecting WHO due to its links with birth defects as well as brain damage, the lack of immunity among affected populations and the lack of vaccines and treatment facilities.

The emergency team has been created due to the concern that if the WHO does not act fast, the virus might lead to thousands of deaths, rather like the ebola spread.

The virus was reported first in 1947, and was thought to be mild, and was never thought to be spreading in a major way. Still, it has been blamed for "birth defects and brain damage", leading to cases of microcephaly in newborns.