Curtin Uni professor plays key role in Zika virus study quoting : Community News Group

"Although local transmission of Zika virus has not yet been reported in Australia, the risk of that happening is real. Picture: Mal BruceCURTIN University professor Gareth Baynam played a key role in an Australian-first study to determine the prevalence of microcephaly, in preparation of any future outbreak of the Zika virus. The study found an average of five cases of microcephaly in every 10,000 births in WA over the study period. "More than 2.2 billion people live in areas where Zika virus infection is a risk and local transmission has recently been reported in Singapore and other common travel destinations for Australians," Dr Hansen said. Gareth Baynam leads the facial recognition team at Curtin, technology that can be used to diagnose genetic abnormalities.




Brazil has declared an end to its public health emergency over the Zika virus, 18 months after a surge in cases drew headlines around the world. The World Health Organization lifted its own world health emergency in November, even while saying the virus remained a threat. "The Health Ministry and other organisations involved in this area will maintain a policy of fighting Zika, dengue and chikungunya." The mosquito-borne virus wasn't considered a major health threat until the 2015 outbreak revealed that Zika may lead to severe birth defects. One athlete, a Spanish wind surfer, said she got Zika while training in Brazil ahead of the Games.

The world has been waiting on this news about the Zika virus

Countries where people have gotten Zika virus (as of January 2016). It was one of the scariest and most unexpected outbreaks in recent years - the Zika virus was thought to be almost benign, causing no major... Although authorities are still on alert, the Zika epidemic seems to have backed off. Image via Wikipedia / CDC.


collected by :Sandra Alex
To follow all the new news about

VIRUSES and INFECTIONS