Zika ebbing in Latin America but vigilance needed -WHO

Gene One Life Science

01/02/2017 19:02

* Latin America reporting fewer Zika cases, no second wave 
seen 
    * 29 countries have reported babies with birth defects 
    * WHO expects further outbreaks in Africa after Angola 
    * Five experimental vaccines entering phase 1 trial 
 
    By Stephanie Nebehay 
    GENEVA, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Brazil and Latin America are 
recording lower numbers of Zika infections than last year, but 
all countries must remain vigilant against the virus which can 
cause birth defects, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on 
Wednesday. 
    The viral disease carried by mosquitoes has spread to more 
than 60 countries and territories since an outbreak was 
identified in Brazil in 2015, raising alarm over its ability to 
cause microcephaly as well as Guillain-Barre syndrome. 
    "The prevalence of Zika is dropping, certainly in the 
Americas," Ian Clarke, WHO incident manager for Zika, told a 
news briefing. 
    He said it was not clear why infection rates were falling. 
    "The anticipation was that we would see a second wave, 
certainly in Brazil and we haven't seen it. And we don't believe 
this is because we're not looking. There's a lot of surveillance 
ongoing," Clarke said. 
    Further research was needed into issues including whether 
there was a "natural immunity" due to previous exposure. 
    Wednesday marked the first anniversary of WHO declaring that 
Zika constituted an international emergency. It lifted that 
designation in November while maintaining its advice for 
pregnant women and travellers.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N1DJ56T 
    To date, 29 countries have reported thousands of babies born 
with Zika-linked microcephaly, which causes abnormally 
small-sized heads, often signifying arrested brain development. 
    Long-term efforts were required, such as against other 
infectious diseases including malaria and dengue fever.  
    "We should expect to see outbreaks. We saw it in Singapore, 
we will see it again," Clarke said. 
    Angola said last month it had recorded its first two cases 
of Zika virus.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL5N1F1411 
    "In a couple of other countries we're doing some quite 
intensive surveillance work, Tanzania and some others where we 
know there is the vector (the aedes aegypti mosquito), we know 
that there is chikungunya, so really looking to see if we can 
find Zika," he said. 
    There is no preventive treatment against Zika, but drug 
companies are rushing to develop a vaccine. 
    "There are about 40 vaccine candidates, five are entering or 
about to enter in phase 1, clinical trial for safety and ability 
to induce an immune response," said WHO's Dr Bernadette Murgue. 
    The five experimental vaccines, as listed on the WHO 
website, are made by: Gene One Life Science Inc  011000.KS / 
Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc  INO.O ; Moderna Therapeutics; and by 
the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. 
    "It will take at least two to three years before 
registration of these vaccines," Murgue said. 
 
 (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Catherine Evans) 
 ((Stephanie.Nebehay@thomsonreuters.com; +41 58 306 2161; 
Reuters Messaging: 
stephanie.nebehay.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net; twitter 
@StephNebehay)) 
 
Keywords: HEALTH ZIKA/WHO