WHO: Zika virus spreading 'explosively,' could affect up to 4 million people
The World Health Organization said Thursday that the mosquito-borne Zika virus is spreading so "explosively" that immediate action is necessary. WHO estimates that the virus, which has already been linked to thousands of birth defects in Brazil, could affect up to four million people in the Americas.
"We are not going to wait for the science to tell us there is a link [with birth defects]," WHO General-Director Margaret Chan said. "We need to take actions now."
WHO estimates that just confirming causation between Zika and birth defects could take six to nine months; developing a safe, effective vaccine could take a year or longer.
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