Zika outbreak will worsen earlier than it gets higher with the aid of Stephen Eisenhammer

the head of the arena fitness agency warned Wednesday that the Zika outbreak would likely worsen before nations besieged by means of the mosquito-borne virus related to heaps of beginning defects in Brazil see comfort.

Director-general Margaret Chan made the comments on the cease of her two-day go to to Brazil, the u . s . a . at the epicenter of the Zika crisis.

"things may additionally get worse earlier than they get higher," Chan stated at a information convention in Rio de Janeiro. "do not be surprised to see microcephaly suggested in different elements of Brazil."

As but, Brazil's Zika outbreak has been focused in the northeastern a part of the state.

lots remains unknown approximately Zika, consisting of whether the virus really reasons microcephaly, a condition marked by surprisingly small heads which could result in developmental issues. Chan underscored that scientists are still running to determine causality among the virus and the start defect.

Brazil said this week it has confirmed more than 580 instances of microcephaly, and considers most of them to be associated with Zika infections within the mothers. Brazil is investigating extra than four,a hundred additional suspected cases of microcephaly.

After Brazil, Colombia has been hardest hit via Zika infections with the united states's health officials reporting on Wednesday a likely case of microcephaly possibly linked to Zika in an aborted fetus.

Colombia has suggested more than 37,000 instances of Zika which includes 6,356 in pregnant women however has yet to have a confirmed microcephaly case related to the virus. as a minimum 34 countries, basically in the Americas, have energetic Zika outbreaks and the virus is anticipated to spread.

the arena health employer declared the outbreak an global health emergency on Feb. 1, mentioning a "strongly suspected" dating among Zika contamination in pregnancy and microcephaly. Scientists also are reading a ability link between Zika infection and Guillain-Barre, a unprecedented neurological disorder which could weaken the muscles and cause paralysis.