Now Zika has spread to AFRICA, World Health Organisation confirms

  • 7,500 people in Cape Verde have same Zika virus strain as Americas
  • Three babies there have already developed birth defect microcephaly
  • Fears African countries nearby have poor health infrastructures
  • Comes same week as WHO warned Zika was likely to hit parts of Europe 

The Zika virus which has infected more than 7,500 people in an island nation off the western coast of Africa is the same strain spreading through the Americas.

Today, the World Health Organization confirmed the virus in Cape Verde is the same as the one behind an explosion of cases in the Americas.

Three babies have developed microcephaly - the same devastating condition that has left babies in Brazil and elsewhere with undersized brains and skulls.  

'This is the first time that strain of Zika which has been showed to cause neurological disorders and microcephaly has been detected in Africa,' said Matshidiso Moeti, WHO's Africa regional chief.

More than 7,500 people in Cape Verde, off the western coast of Africa, have been infected with the same strain of the Zika virus spreading through the Americas, the WHO has confirmed today

More than 7,500 people in Cape Verde, off the western coast of Africa, have been infected with the same strain of the Zika virus spreading through the Americas, the WHO has confirmed today

The Zika virus may spread into Europe as the weather gets warmer, health officials warned this week. Many countries such as France, Italy, Malta, Croatia and Spain are at moderate risk for local Zika virus transmission

The Zika virus may spread into Europe as the weather gets warmer, health officials warned this week. Many countries such as France, Italy, Malta, Croatia and Spain are at moderate risk for local Zika virus transmission

The so-called Asian strain of the virus has infected some 1.5 million people in hardest-hit country Brazil alone, and was detected in Cape Verde through the sequencing of Zika cases in the island nation.

'It is the same genetic material as the virus in Brazil,' WHO spokeswoman Marsha Vanderford told AFP.

'The findings are of concern because it is further proof that the outbreak is spreading beyond South America and is on the doorstep of Africa. 

'This information will help African countries to re-evaluate their level of risk and adapt and increase their levels of preparedness,' she said.

The news comes days after experts said it was only a matter of time until Zika hit parts of Europe in late spring and summer.

THE ASIAN STRAIN OF ZIKA IN AFRICA 

Dr Anna Checkley, a tropical disease specialist at University College London Hospitals said the Asian strain of Zika is probably more infectious to humans than the African strain.

She said: 'There has been an outbreak of Zika virus infection in Cape Verde since October 2015, and today the World Health Organisation confirmed that it is the Asian, rather than the African strain of the virus that is causing these infections.

'The Asian strain was responsible for the outbreak in Polynesia in 2007, and it is also responsible for the current Zika epidemic.

'Prior to 2007 there were no known outbreaks of Zika virus infection, with just occasional cases (caused by the African strain) reported from countries in Africa.

'It is not known why the virus has become so much more aggressive since it was first described in 1947, and there are a number of possible explanations for this.

'It has probably been circulating at a low level in African countries for more than 50 years, so some of the population may already be immune.

‘It is likely that the South American, Caribbean and Polynesian populations had no prior immunity to the virus, so a high proportion of people who are bitten by infected mosquitos caught the disease.

“It may be that the Asian strain of the virus is more infectious to humans, so it spreads from human (via mosquito) to human.

‘The African strain is probably more infectious to primates other than humans, causing the occasional sporadic human case.

'Since human cases in Africa are so few and far between, we don’t yet know whether the African strain of the virus also causes Congenital Zika Syndrome – the form linked to microcephaly.

‘For the same reason we do not know whether people who have been infected with the African strain are protected against catching the Asian strain.

‘In fact, we do not even know whether individuals who have recovered from the Asian strain are protected against a second infection with the same strain.'

Overall, a third of countries in Europe have a 'moderate' risk of an outbreak of the virus, which has been linked to severe birth defects in babies.

Madeira and the Black Sea are on high alert - but popular tourist destinations including France, Italy and Spain are also at 'moderate risk'. 

The large and spreading outbreak of Zika that began in Brazilhas caused global alarm, after thousands of cases of microcephaly in babies were linked to women who become infected with the virus while pregnant.

Experts agree that Zika is behind a surge in cases of the birth defect microcephaly - babies born with abnormally small heads and brains  -after their mothers were infected with the virus.

Cape Verde, which reported its first Zika case in October, is a former Portuguese colony like Brazil, where the mosquito-borne virus emerged last year before spreading to nearly 60 countries. 

Its emergence near Africa raises new concerns because many of the nearby countries on the continent have very poor health infrastructure as was laid bare by the Ebola epidemic that ravished Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. 

The virus, which also causes the rare but serious neurological disorder Guillain-Barre Syndrome, is mainly spread by two species of Aedes mosquito but has also been shown to transmit through sexual contact.

WHO believes the Asian Zika strain was imported to Cape Verde by a traveller coming from Brazil, before it began spreading locally.

The African strain of the Zika virus, which takes its name from Uganda's tropical Zika forest where it was first discovered in 1947, has been widespread on the continent for decades.

But until recently, Zika sparked little concern, as it usually causes only mild, flu-like symptoms and Africans have generally built up immunity against the African strain.

It remains unclear what impact the Asian strain of the virus could have in Africa, said Bruce Aylward, WHO chief on outbreaks and health emergencies.

As of May 8, 7,557 suspected Zika cases had been registered in Cape Verde, as well as three microcephaly cases, WHO said.

No cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome have been registered in the country so far.

Dr Anna Checkley, a tropical disease specialist at the University College London Hospitals said the Asian strain of the virus was responsible for the outbreak in Polynesia in 2007, and it is also responsible for the current Zika epidemic.

Today the WHO confirmed it was the Asian, rather than teh AFrican strain, that is causing the current infection on the continent. 

She said: 'It is not known why the virus has become so much more aggressive since it was first described in 1947, and there are a number of possible explanations for this.

Three babies have developed microcephaly - the same devastating condition that has left babies in Brazil, like João Heitor (pictured) and elsewhere with undersized brains and skulls

Three babies have developed microcephaly - the same devastating condition that has left babies in Brazil, like João Heitor (pictured) and elsewhere with undersized brains and skulls

'It has probably been circulating at a low level in African countries for more than 50 years, so some of the population may already be immune.

‘It is likely that the South American, Caribbean and Polynesian populations had no prior immunity to the virus, so a high proportion of people who are bitten by infected mosquitos caught the disease.

The findings are of concern because it is further proof that the outbreak is spreading beyond South America and is on the doorstep of Africa
Marsha Vanderford, WHO

“It may be that the Asian strain of the virus is more infectious to humans, so it spreads from human (via mosquito) to human.

She added: ‘The African strain is probably more infectious to primates other than humans, causing the occasional sporadic human case.

'Since human cases in Africa are so few and far between, we don’t yet know whether the African strain of the virus also causes Congenital Zika Syndrome – the form linked to microcephaly.

‘For the same reason we do not know whether people who have been infected with the African strain are protected against catching the Asian strain.

‘In fact, we do not even know whether individuals who have recovered from the Asian strain are protected against a second infection with the same strain.'

AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC TEAM GIVEN DOUBLE-STRENGTH CONDOMS FOR RIO DUE TO ZIKA FEARS

With the Rio Olympics fast approaching, you'd think the athletes are saving their energy for the Games.

But it seems the athletes will be working up more of a sweat off the field than they will on it as 450,000 condoms are set to help facilitate the teams at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil.

And in addition to the regular protection rubbers, the Australian Olympic athletes will be provided with 1,500 double-strength condoms in an effort to fight the spread of the Zika virus.

Australian Olympic athletes will be provided with  double-strength condoms in an effort to fight the spread of the Zika virus. Some  contain an antiviral lubricant, which could combat against the mosquito-borne disease - which can also be spread by sexual contact

Australian Olympic athletes will be provided with double-strength condoms in an effort to fight the spread of the Zika virus. Some contain an antiviral lubricant, which could combat against the mosquito-borne disease - which can also be spread by sexual contact

The Australia Olympic Committee has signed a deal with leading Australian condom manufacturer Starpharma, who will supply the 'dual protection' condoms.

The condoms are said to contain an antiviral lubricant for 'added protection', which could combat against the mosquito-borne disease, which can also be transmitted through sexual contact.

The precautionary measure comes after International Olympic Committee president Kevan Gosper called on all 134 athletes of the Australian team to get blood-tested for the virus after the games.

'The Zika virus can be passed onto the female in any sexual relationship for a period of up to six months,' he told The Daily Telegraph.

'I recommend to the AOC that they look at blood testing, two weeks after the (athletes) come out of Brazil.'

Olympic organisers will set up free dispensing machines around the athlete's village, with hundreds of thousands of condoms and 175,000 sachets of lubricant available over the two weeks. 

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