The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned the mosquito-borne Zika virus will likely reach nearly all of North and South America.
The WHO explained in a statement Monday that the virus — which has been linked to birth defects — is set to spread across the Americas because the populations have not been exposed to the virus before. The statement said “Zika virus will continue to spread and will likely reach all countries and territories of the region where Aedes mosquitoes are found” — that includes all of the Americas except Canada and Chile.
Zika has already reached 21 territories and countries in North and South America. As well as causing headaches, fever and conjunctivitis, it has been suspected of contributing to a surge in birth defects that causes babies to be born with uncommonly small heads.
U.S. officials are currently pushing to develop a vaccine for the Zika virus.
- TIME's 100 Most Influential People of 2022
- Employers Take Note: Young Workers Are Seeking Jobs with a Higher Purpose
- Signs Are Pointing to a Slowdown in the Housing Market—At Last
- Welcome to the Era of Unapologetic Bad Taste
- As the Virus Evolves, COVID-19 Reinfections Are Going to Keep Happening
- A New York Mosque Becomes a Refuge for Afghan Teens Who Fled Without Their Families
- High Gas Prices are Oil Companies' Fault says Ro Khanna, and Democrats Should Go After Them
- Two Million Cases: COVID-19 May Finally Force North Korea to Open Up
