China confirms first Zika case
BEIJING (AFP) – China confirmed its first imported case of Zika late Tuesday, Xinhua reported, as fears mount over the fast-spreading virus that has been linked to severe birth defects mostly in Latin America.
Few cases of the mosquito-borne illness have been reported in Asia, but the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global health emergency to combat Zika as cases spread
elsewhere.
Officials in China said a 34-year- old man was diagnosed with the virus after he returned from Venezuela on January 28 and reported a fever, headache and dizziness, according to Xinhua news agency citing health officials.
The man, from Ganxian county in the southeast province of Jiangxi, is now recovering with a normal body temperature and fading rash, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission cited on Xinhua.
He had travelled home via Hong Kong and Shenzhen and has been quarantined and treated in a Ganxian hospital since February 6.
The health commission said he posed an extremely low risk of spreading the virus, the news agency added.
The disease starts with a mosquito bite and normally causes little more than a fever and rash.
Zika has however been linked to a surge in the number of children in Latin America born with microcephaly — abnormally small heads and brains.
So far, 26 countries have confirmed cases of the virus, and dozens of Europeans and North Americans returning from Zika- affected areas have also tested positive for the virus.
Brazil has been hardest hit by the outbreak with more than 20,000 cases, including over 2,000 pregnant women.
Thailand and Indonesia have report- ed one case each, but health experts have warned some Asian nations are vulnerable to a Zika outbreak.
Health authorities have said Zika could infect up to four million people in Latin America and spread worldwide.
Abortion
Paraguay will not legalize therapeutic abortions for pregnant women infected with the Zika virus, Public Health Minister Antonio Barrios said Tuesday.
Therapeutic abortions won’t be discussed because there has been no definite proof that the Zika virus causes the birth defect microcephaly, Barrios said.
“For sure, there is no scientific evidence that this is the case. It is thought the virus’ significant effect occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy,” Barrios told reporters.
Abortions are illegal in Paraguay except for pregnant women whose life is in danger. Women found guilty of having an abortion are subject to five years in jail. Doctors that perform the operation may lose their medical license and also face a prison term.