The World Health Organization on Monday declared a “public health emergency of international concern” Monday over the Zika virus and the health problems that doctors fear it is causing.
The agency said the emergency is warranted because of how fast the mosquito-borne virus is spreading and its suspected link to an alarming spike in babies born with abnormally small heads.
Reports of a serious neurological condition that can lead to paralysis have also risen in areas where the virus has been reported.
The conditions have not yet been conclusively linked to the virus.
But according to the WHO, the large area potentially affected by the virus due to lack of vaccines and reliable diagnostic tests, and lack of population immunity in the affected countries contributed to the need for the declaration.
Nigerian government had issued a travel alert to citizens, especially pregnant women going to north America over the Zika virus.
The federal ministry of health also disclosed that its researchers are testing Mosquitoes to ascertain if the virus has spread to the country.
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