Tanzania health authorities on Friday allayed fears of the reported Zika virus detection saying the World Health Organisation (WHO) was yet to confirm the reports.
Ummy Mwalimu, the Minister for Health, said any outbreak of a disease with international concern had to be verified and announced by the global health agency.
The Zika virus, which was isolated from monkeys in Uganda about 70 years ago, has prompted worldwide concern after it began spreading very fast in the Americas early this year.
Zika viruses are believed to cause serious damage to a foetus such that babies are born with brain damage and head deformity.
"No Zika virus has been verified in the country so far. The Zika virus is an international reportable disease of which any discerned condition must be verified by the WHO in collaboration with the office of the Chief Government Medical Officer in the respective country," she said.
The minister was responding to media reports quoting the National Institute of Medical Research Director General, Mwele Malecela, who had announced that the Zika virus had been detected in Morogoro and Geita regions, sending shockwaves among Tanzanians.
Malecela was quoted as saying that the government was working out strategies to make sure that all pregnant mothers were protected from the Zika virus-carrying mosquitoes. Enditem
source: Xinhua
GMT 03:47 2017 Wednesday ,22 February
World Health Organisation declares global emergency over Zika virusGMT 12:02 2016 Sunday ,11 December
Risk of Zika-caused microcephaly highest among women infected early in pregnancyGMT 14:33 2016 Saturday ,01 October
Taiwan reports 9th imported Zika caseGMT 12:55 2016 Sunday ,11 September
Thailand Confirms 21 New Cases of Zika in BangkokGMT 21:24 2016 Wednesday ,07 September
Malaysia confirms first case of pregnant woman infected with ZikaMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor