US health authorities confirm Zika causes microcephaly

MORE EFFORTS NEEDED

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global emergency in early February amid a Zika outbreak in Central and South America. Further global efforts are needed to curb the outbreak as the world sees new cases reported every day.

In Norway, 12 people, including five pregnant women, have tested positive for the Zika virus since screening began in February, Norwegian newspaper VG reported.

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health advises pregnant women not to travel to areas affected by the Zika virus and recommends that pregnant women who have stayed in affected areas be followed up by regional fetal medicine centers after their return to Norway regardless of symptoms or not, the institute said.

In the Americas, mosquito-borne Zika virus transmission has been reported in 33 countries and territories of the region, a latest WHO report said.

A Cuban arriving from Venezuela days ago has been confirmed as the ninth imported case, bringing the country's total number of Zika virus infections to 10, Cuba's Health Ministry announced Wednesday.

The country has so far seen only one domestic case, a 21-year-old woman from Havana who had never traveled abroad.

Cuba is launching a campaign against the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, of which the females carry Zika, plus chikungunya and dengue viruses. The government has deployed more than 9,000 soldiers and 200 police officers to support fumigation efforts in homes and workplaces.

Brazilian health authorities said Tuesday that the country will temporarily allow genetically modified mosquitoes to be set free to help reduce the population of the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

According to the WHO, Zika virus transmission has been documented in 62 countries and territories from Jan. 1, 2007 to April 6, 2016. Besides mosquito-borne transmission, six countries have reported locally acquired infections through sexual transmission.

Symptoms of Zika include fever, joint pain, rash, conjunctivitis, headache and muscle pain.