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As the number of cases of the Zika virus continues to rise in Latin America and the Caribbean, Plan International sees the World Health Organisation's declaration of a global emergency as an important step in tackling the outbreak.
“We hope the move to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern will help mobilise experts and fast-track the hunt for medicines and a vaccine so that we can see an end to the spread of the Zika virus,” said Raul Rodriguez Choto, Plan International’s regional disaster response manager for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Despite better public health systems and quick responses in many parts of Latin America and the Caribbean, the Zika virus has now impacted 24 countries and territories and could affect as many as 4 million people. The virus has no cure nor any preventive vaccine.
Plan International implements programmes in 12 countries in the region and is responding in communities in some of the affected nations. The organisation’s efforts have been centred around public health promotion and mosquito control measures like clean-up campaigns to remove areas of stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed.
Plan International has worked on projects in El Salvador that include introducing a particular species of fish in sources of water where they feed on mosquito larvae. This helps contain the population of mosquitoes that spread dengue fever, chikungunya and, now, the Zika virus.
The Zika virus itself is not considered particularly dangerous and many who become infected show no symptoms. But there are concerns over suspected links to hundreds of cases of babies born with unusually small heads – a condition called microcephaly.
When children are born with microcephaly, they are unlikely to reach their full potential and may require support from those around them for their whole lives.
This often puts an enormous burden on entire families, particularly those who are already vulnerable and excluded from society. The extra time and money needed to support a child born with microcephaly who may have learning difficulties can push families deeper into poverty.
Greater efforts needed
“As the number of cases of Zika virus continues to grow, greater efforts are needed to contain the spread of the outbreak. The battle is essentially a fight against the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the same mosquito that transmits dengue fever and chikungunya,” added Mr Rodriguez Choto.
“For many countries, dengue and chikungunya, along with the Zika virus, will continue to be the priority as these are long-established health concerns in the region. There is therefore already a considerable body of knowledge and experience that can be drawn from.”
Plan International supports the call for greater investment in research and development to gain a better understanding of the links between the Zika virus and other conditions and to develop medicines and vaccines.
Dr Unni Krishnan, Plan International’s Head of Disaster Preparedness and Response, said, “Diseases know no boundaries or borders. The international community must step up to help curb the spread of the Zika virus by offering support to fill in any gaps in terms of expertise, funding and resources to contain the outbreak, building on work that is already being."
“Both the Ebola and Zika virus outbreaks demonstrate the fundamental need for investing in robust public health systems that can avert any outbreaks through effective detection, prevention and control measures.”
The precise impact of the Zika virus will not be known for some time, but there will likely certainly be a significant economic impact in some affected countries as tourism will likely be affected and considerable resources will be channelled to the Zika response, all of which could have a knock-on effect for those already living in poverty.
For more information, please contact:
Plan International Headquarters (London): Matt Crook, Global Press Officer Email: matt.crook@plan-international.org Mobile: +44 (0) 7597 139 281
Plan International – Americas (Panama): Maytee Zachrisson, Regional Media Specialist Email: maytee.zachrisson@plan-international.org
Mobile: (507) 317-1700 ext 952
