Health

Honduras calls for Zika Virus, declared a state of emergency

The Zika Virus continues to spread. As another Latin American country called Honduras a state of national emergency. Federal health Minister Gröhe, keeps the risk of Infection in Germany is low.

An employee of the health authorities in Tegucigalpa sprayed insecticides

Due to a rapid increase in infections with the Zika Virus now also has the Latin American Honduras a national Gesundheitsnotstand proclaimed. In January were more than 3600 cases have been registered, said the President’s office in the capital city of Tegucigalpa. In December are only 50 cases have been. Head of state, Juan Orlando Hernández urged the population to the government in the fight against this “danger to society”. On Monday had the world health organization (WHO) an
global Gesundheitsnotstand explains.

In Germany, the risk of a Zika Transmission according to the Federal health Minister Hermann Gröhe (CDU) is low. Gröhe said the “Rheinische Post”, the experts held a Transfer is unlikely. “But we will remain vigilant”, he added. The necessary steps for Monitoring of potential individual infections in returning travelers had already been initiated.

Associated with El Niño fears

Especially strong, spreads the Zika Virus in North, Central and South America. Affected countries in Africa, Asia and the Western Pacific region. The WHO expressed the fear that the Aedes-Aegypti-mosquitoes that transmit the Virus, due to the Wetterphänomens El Niño greatly increased. The Virus is suspected to be due to infection of Pregnant heavy Schädelfehlbildungen in the newborn to cause.

ago/uh (dpa, epd)