The World Health Organisation declared the mosquito-borne
Zika virus an global public health emergency at the first meeting of the
International Health Regulations committee on Monday.
It said: “A coordinated international response is needed to
minimise the threat in affected countries and reduce the risk of further
international spread.”
The virus has been linked to thousands of birth defects in
Brazil and other countries in the Americas are likely to see babies with
Zika-linked birth defects as the outbreak spreads.
Countries affected by Zika are Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil,
Colombia, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana,
Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, US Virgin Islands,
Venezuela, Samoa and Cape Verde, according to official reports.
Emirates this week became the first airline to take action
to compensate passengers with tickets to those destinations.
An Emirates spokesperson said: “Emirates is closely
monitoring developments around the Zika virus. At this time, there is no impact
on operations to our three gateways in South America (Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo
and Buenos Aires).
“However, special provisions have been put in place for
customers advised to avoid the affected regions based on CDC guidance.
“Customers holding a ticket issued on or before 29 January
2016 for travel up to 30 April 2016 may choose to rebook to an alternate
destination in the Americas not affected by the virus, or refund their travel
to destinations reported to be affected by the Zika virus.
“Customers are advised to contact the Emirates Contact
Centre at 600 555 555 for more information.”
WHO Director-General Margaret Chan told reporters that
coordinated international action was needed to improve detection and expedite
work on a vaccine and better diagnostics for the disease, but said curbs on
travel or trade were not necessary.
Chan, whose agency was assailed as too slow in reacting to
West Africa's Ebola epidemic that killed more than 10,000 people in the past
two years, cited "first and foremost the big concern about
microcephaly," the birth defect that causes babies to be born with
abnormally small heads and improperly developed brains.
She noted that it was "strongly suspected but not yet
scientifically proven" that Zika causes microcephaly.
"Can you imagine if we do not do all this work now, and
wait until the scientific evidence comes out?" Chan told reporters at the
WHO headquarters in Geneva. "Then people will say that, 'Why don't you
take action because the mosquito is ubiquitous?'"
The emergency designation, recommended by a committee of
independent experts following criticism of a hesitant response to Zika so far,
should help fast-track international action and research priorities. The move
lends official urgency to research funding and other steps to stem the spread
of the virus.
The WHO said last week the Zika virus, transmitted by the
bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, was "spreading explosively" and
could infect as many as 4 million people in the Americas. The Pan American
Health Organisation says Zika has spread in 24 nations and territories in the
Americas.
This marks the fourth time the WHO has declared a global
health emergency since such procedures were put in place in 2007, with the
others arising from influenza, Ebola and polio.
Brazil is due to host the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in
August, and President Dilma Rousseff's chief of staff said on Monday there is
no risk of cancelling the games due to Zika.
"We have to explain to those coming to Brazil, the
athletes, that there is zero risk if you are not a pregnant women," Jaques
Wagner told reporters in Brasilia.
Qatar Airways is also offering refunds to selected passengers who have bought tickets to countries hit by the Zika virus.
Etihad Airways, meanwhile, said in a statement that it is
“monitoring the situation”.
Qatar Airways said it is offering to refund tickets or
change the travel date free of charge for pregnant women and their companions.
In a statement on its website, the company
said: “Qatar Airways is offering travel options to pregnant women and their
travel companions who have been ticketed by 02 February 2016 for travel through
31 March 2016 to countries known to host the Zika virus, including one free change
of date or a refund.
“Eligible passengers are encouraged to discuss options with
Qatar Airways by contacting their travel agent or Qatar Airways’ 24-hour call
centre on +974 4023 0000.”
It added that passengers considering travel to Zika-affected
nations can find further information by visiting the websites of the World
Health Organisation, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, and the
United Nations’ World Tourism Organisation.
Meanwhile, Etihad Airways said it is operating its normal
schedule of flights to the Americas and Africa.
It said in a statement: “The Zika virus situation in South
America has had no impact on Etihad Airways services.
“However, the airline will continue to monitor the
situation.”
The World Health Organisation on Monday declared the
mosquito-borne Zika virus a global public health emergency.
It told the first meeting of the International Health
Regulations committee: “A coordinated international response is needed to minimise
the threat in affected countries and reduce the risk of further international
spread.”
The virus has been linked to thousands of birth defects in
Brazil and other countries in the Americas are likely to see babies with
Zika-linked birth defects as the outbreak spreads.
Countries affected by Zika are Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil,
Colombia, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana,
Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, US Virgin Islands,
Venezuela, Samoa and Cape Verde, according to official reports.
source: arabianbusiness.com
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