Zika cases in pregnant women double in Colombia
January 31, 2016
Health officials in Colombia announced Saturday that more than 2,000 pregnant women have now been infected with the mosquito-born Zika virus, making Colombia the second hardest-hit country after Brazil, the epicenter of the outbreak.
The virus has been linked to microcephaly, a birth defect which prevents fetus' brains from developing properly. The disease has no known cure and is said to be untreatable, and can cause permanent damage to a child's motor and cognitive development. The virus is said to be carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
The national health institute said in an epidemiology bulletin that there are 20,927 confirmed cases of the disease in Colombia, with 2,116 pregnant women among them. There are so far no reports of deaths from the disease in the country.
The announcement comes after the World Health Organization (WHO) warned this week that the virus is "spreading explosively" across the Americas, predicting three to four million cases this year. The WHO is due to hold an emergency meeting on Monday to address the spread of the disease.
Preparing for the worst
Meanwhile, Colombian authorities have ordered hospitals to be prepared, as the government expects more than 600,000 people to become infected with the virus. In addition, authorities in the country have asked women to delay conceiving by six to seven months to avoid potential infection.
The health ministry has allowed abortions, as the deformity of the fetus meets health requirements. Many women, especially those living far away from large cities, find it difficult to find legal abortion providers.
Ecuador, El Salvador, Jamaica and Puerto Rica have also warned women to delay conceiving.
Brazil, the hardest hit country, has reported 3,700 cases of microcephaly so far. In August the country is due to host the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The International Olympic Committee assured teams the Olympics would be safe from the virus, but urged visitors to protect themselves.
smm/bw (Reuters, AFP)