(VOVworld) - Zika virus could infect four million people in the Americas - and has 'explosive pandemic potential', the World Health Organization warned on Thursday.
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| The Aedes aegypti mosquito thrives in tropical climates and can carry the Zika virus (Photo: www.independent.co.uk) |
Speaking at a meeting with the WHO Executive Board, WHO director general Margaret Chan, said the virus is spreading at an alarming level, with 24 countries and territories affected. The WHO leader called for an urgent meeting between medical experts on Monday to work out top priorities for research and measures to deal with the virus. Marcos Espinal, WHO's director of infectious diseases in the Americas region, said around 4 million Zika virus affected cases were being forecast in America.
On the same day, France and Canada confirmed the first Zika cases in their countries. According to health officials, those patients returned to their countries after traveling abroad.