First Death From Zika-Linked Syndrome Reported In Honduras

As many as 185 pregnant women in Honduras are diagnosed with Zika virus. A total of 15,732 suspected cases have been reported so far in the country.

The first death from Guillain-Barre syndrome linked to the Zika virus was reported in Honduras. Zika virus is a mosquito-borne epidemic that is spreading through Latin America and also suspected of causing birth defects.

The person died from Guillain-Barre syndrome, a neurological disorder that results from the body's immune system attacking part of the nervous system, leading to muscle weakness which can be severe or fatal.

Zika Fever - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention
Zika virus is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes which causes mild fever with maculopapular rash. No treatment or vaccine is currently available.

‘Guillain-Barre is a neurological disorder which is linked to Zika infection. About 57 cases of Guillain-Barre have been reported in Honduras so far this year. ’

Honduras' deputy health minister, Francis Contreras, did not identify the victim, but said he or she was among 57 patients diagnosed with Guillain-Barre.

He said the person had been in the north of Honduras, but did not say where exactly so as not to cause panic or stigmatize the area.

Although Zika has not been definitively proved to cause Guillain-Barre or microcephaly, a severe deformation of baby's brains, the World Health Organization strongly suspects it does.

Swift Action Needed To Minimize Economic Impact Of Zika Outbreak: World Bank
The impact of the mosquito-borne Zika virus will be modest, if $3.5 billion, or 0.06 percentage points is taken off of gross domestic output (GDP) for the affected region this year.

Contreras said Honduras has diagnosed 185 pregnant women with Zika.

He said more than 27,000 people in the country were affected by the illness and dengue and chikungunya, two other diseases transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Zika Virus May Be Associated With Meningoencephalitis
Forty one countries or territories have reported transmission of Zika within their borders since last year, and eight have reported an increase in Guillain-Barre cases.

There is currently no vaccine for the Zika virus, and affected countries are focusing on wiping out mosquito populations in an effort to curb its spread.

According to the World Health Organization, 41 countries or territories have reported transmission of Zika within their borders since last year, and nine have reported an increase in Guillain-Barre cases.

International Health Experts to Visit Brazil to Check Rise in Zika Virus
Experts from the US Centers for Disease Control are already in Brazil and officials from the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health, are due to arrive.

Source-AFP