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The World Health Organization (WHO) recently announced that Zika is no longer an international emergency, but warned that the virus is still a threat. Health officials worry that Zika may be downgraded and lose priority when it comes to monitoring and research.

Various studies have established the link between Zika with microcephaly and Guillain-Barre Syndrome. In Brazil alone, 2,300 children have been affected and this number could be an underestimate due to children without manifestations of microcephaly, but still have serious neurological problems.

Early this year in February, the WHO Zika situation report categorized the disease as an emergency, requiring all countries to report on confirmed cases and incidence of microcephaly. Last Friday, Dr. David Heymann, professor of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, addressed reporters in a conference call saying that Zika loses its label of international emergency, but not its importance as reported by ABC.

Global health law expert, Lawrence Gostin of Georgetown University, echoed the fear of many observers, worrying that there will be a decline in research. Some people have already accused WHO of having a "lethargic' response to Zika when there should be a race to develop vaccines.

Heymann has admitted that the committee has initially worried that people may get the wrong message and insisted that Zika has just been raised as a prevailing and important disease. Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control believes that "it would be unfortunate" if people believe that "Zika is any less serious...because it's not" as reported in Stat.

WHO still warn pregnant women to avoid traveling to countries with reported Zika virus infection. Moreover, people who may have had exposure to the Zika virus refrain from engaging in unprotected sex for at least six months.

Presently, the WHO Zika situation report still puts the virus as a serious threat as long as there are mosquitoes who carry it. Dr. Peter Salama, executive director of WHO's health Emergency Programme says that "Zika is here to stay" and WHO's response remains robust as it continues to find a cure as reported in Reuters.