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              UN Urges Communities to Mobilize to Stop Zika Spread

   by Lisa Schlein

   U.N. agencies are mobilizing communities in Latin America and the
   Caribbean to stop the spread of the Zika virus, which has infected tens
   of thousands of people in about 25 countries.
   The Zika virus in itself is not much of a threat. Its symptoms are mild
   and not life threatening. But, the virus is suspected of causing birth
   defects in newborn babies. More than 4,000 cases of microcephaly, a
   condition that causes abnormally small brains in babies, have been
   found in Brazil.''

   The explosive surge of this disease has prompted the [1]World Health
   Organization to declare the Zika virus a global public health
   emergency.

   ''No vaccine is available to protect pregnant women against the virus.
   So, WHO is urging communities to do battle against the disease to
   protect pregnant women from being bitten by the Aedes mosquito, which
   transmits the virus.

   ''
   Involving communities
   WHO Maternal Health Director Anthony Costello says communities must
   remove all stagnant pools where the mosquitoes flourish.

   He says mass community engagement and mobilization of women's groups
   can do a lot to provide women and pregnant mothers with the information
   they need to protect themselves and their babies.

   ''

   ''
   "If we learned one thing from Ebola, mobilizing communities is an
   absolutely critical public health measure," he said. "And, then we need
   to educate health workers, particularly the midwives and obstetricians
   and health care workers that look after women and make sure that
   everyone gets the information on risks and diagnostics as hopefully the
   situation changes."

   Brazil mobilization campaign
   Spokesman Christof Boulierac says the U.N. children's fund is running a
   community mobilization campaign in Brazil with messages on how to avoid
   mosquito bites and eliminate breeding sites.

   "Including using insect repellent... covering as much of the body as
   possible with long, light-colored clothing, removing places where
   mosquitoes can breed and putting screens on windows and doors," he
   explained.

   ''
   UNICEF is mainly engaged in Brazil, but the agency is also scaling up
   its support to other countries in the region as a precautionary
   measure. UNICEF is launching a $9 million appeal to finance the
   programs.

   ''''
     __________________________________________________________________

   [2]http://www.voanews.com/content/un-urges-communities-to-mobilize-to-s
   top-spread-of-zika/3174560.html

References

   1. http://www.who.int/en/
   2. http://www.voanews.com/content/un-urges-communities-to-mobilize-to-stop-spread-of-zika/3174560.html