The World Health Organization has delivered a startling message: the Zika virus could spread to Europe this summer. Moreover, the Black Sea coastlines are most susceptible to the spread of the virus in Russia and Georgia. True, the WHO clarifies that the likelihood of a serious outbreak of the disease is low.
In addition to the Russian and Georgian coasts, the island of Madeira is among the most endangered. In France, Spain, Italy and Greece, the risk of an outbreak is assessed as moderate. The least risk of spreading the virus is in the UK.
WHO calls for the elimination of mosquito breeding sites, as well as educate the population about the negative consequences of the disease, especially for pregnant women. It is for them that the Zika virus poses the greatest danger - being not fatal, it leads to serious congenital malformations (for example, microcephaly) in newborns.
A vaccine against this virus, recognized by the World Health Organization as a global threat, has not yet been developed. Meanwhile, according to a study by Brazilian scientists, a total of 2.2 billion people live in areas threatened by the Zika epidemic.
However, Russian scientists urge not to panic:
- Honestly - I don't believe in it, - said "MK" Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, member of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, member of the New York Academy of Sciences, Vice President of the International Academy of Sciences of Nature and Society, virologist of the Gamaleya Institute Viktor Abramovich Zuev. - I think that the assumption of the spread of the Zika virus to Europe is pure fortune telling on coffee grounds. There is no reason for such a spread: the virus is transmitted by a species of mosquito that is not found in our country, as well as sexually. But many diseases are transmitted sexually - for example, gonorrhea. However, there are no outbreaks of gonorrhea. The Zika virus cannot be compared with the human immunodeficiency virus either: HIV infection is characterized by a very long incubation period - up to 12 years and a slow nature of the course (if it starts, you cannot stop it). This greatly contributes to its spread. I see no reason for the spread of the Zika virus. So you can sleep soundly and calm the rest.
Irina Seliverstova