Zika declared public health emergency

The outbreak of the virus in Brazil has prompted the WHO to declare a health emergency.

10 February 2016

Presented by Chris Smith.

ANOPHELES-MOSQUITO

A female Anopheles albimanus mosquito feeding on a human host and becoming engorged with blood.

Credit:

Last week, the outbreak of Zika virus in Brazil prompted the World Health Organisation to declare a global health emergency. The virus is spreading fast and has been linked to microcephaly, in which children are born with underdeveloped brains. Consultant virologist Tim Wreghitt spoke to Chris Smith about the situation...