The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated the Zika Virus "a public health emergency of international concern" on Monday. The WHO's declaration represents its highest level of alert and paves the way for more money and manpower to fight the spread of the virus.
At a news conference in Geneva, Margaret Chan, director general of the WHO, said that cases of microcephaly in regions with Zika outbreaks "constitute an extraordinary event and a public health threat to other parts of the world."
Adding that, "international response is needed to minimize the threat in infected countries and reduce risk of international spread."
The rare declaration was spurred by growing concern that the Zika infection in pregnant women is linked to microcephaly – a birth defect that causes small headache and brain abnormalities.
Chan said the primary reason for the decision was that members of an advisory panel "agree that a causal relationship and microcephaly is 'strongly suspected' though not scientifically proven."
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