(TRUNEWS) The World Health Organization has declared public health emergency concerning the Zika virus.
The group held an emergency meeting today to discuss the epidemic, according to NBC, as incidents of the disease are on the rise.
Last week, WHO said as many as 4 million people all over the world could be infected this year. The virus, which is spread by mosquitoes can cause paralysis in adults and may account for the rise in brain disease in unborn children. Cases of babies being born with microcephaly have skyrocketed, especially in Brazil.
Male Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are seen in this picture. Zika virus is among the viruses spead by the species.REUTERS/Ma Qiang/Southern Metropolis Daily
Now it is being reported that more than 2,100 pregnant women in Colombia are infected with Zika, according to Newsmax.
Many governments in South America have urged women to put off getting pregnant, as reported by TRUNEWS. Abortion is also on the rise.
Right now there is no vaccine. Some governments have responded by scheduling massive spraying.
In the past, WHO has also declared states of emergency for the H1N1 swine flu pandemic of 2009, for a resurgence in polio and the Ebola outbreak.
Zika virus is believed to have originated in Africa in 1947. But now there is evidence the current outbreak was caused by the release of genetically modified mosquitos in 2012.
The insects were engineered by biotechnology experts to fight the spread of dengue fever and released in Brazil, according to the Daily Mirror.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is one of the groups that funds genetically modified mosquitoes.
The post WHO declares public health emergency over Zika appeared first on TRUNEWS with Rick Wiles.
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