WHO Concerned About Zika's Spread in Southeast Asia
The World Health Organization is increasingly concerned about the spread of the Zika virus in Southeast Asia.
The United Nations organization is worried the virus, which is carried by mosquitos, could affect local populations in the area.
Roderico Ofrin is the WHO regional emergencies director for Southeast Asia. He said countries need to carry out, in his words, "effective surveillance and reporting systems" to closely observe the disease's spread.
"WHO is working with countries across the South East Asia region to continue to prevent, detect and respond to Zika virus transmission," Ofrin said in an email to VOA.
He said the plan to deal with the disease places importance on limiting the spread of the disease and strengthening Zika virus and birth-defect surveillance.
He added that increasing the abilities of laboratories to test for the disease and increasing communication with communities were also important.
What is Zika?
Zika is blamed for causing the birth defect microcephaly, which can cause babies to be born with unusually small heads and possible brain damage.
So far, South America has suffered the most from the Zika virus. Brazil has reported hundreds of cases of microcephaly since the outbreak started there in 2015.
Now, the medical journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases has identified China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand as high-risk countries.
The medical publication also said that Africa south of the Sahara Desert faced increased risk because of its historical ties with Brazil.
It warned that an estimated 2.6 billion people live in places where conditions for the spread of the virus exist. Pregnant women are most at risk.
Health officials say the virus also is spread through sexual contact, blood transfusions and from mother to child.
The Zika virus also has been linked to nerve damage that can result in weakened muscles and paralysis known as Guillain-Barre syndrome.
Zika in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asian governments have increased efforts to find evidence of the virus.
They have also sprayed chemicals in places where mosquitos breed.
However, Singapore has reported more than 240 cases. Malaysia and Thailand also have reported cases of infection, and the United States, Britain, Australia and Taiwan have given travel warnings for pregnant women.
Singapore's Ministry of Health and National Environment Agency reported that the Zika virus affecting its community came from Asia. It said it did not come from Brazil.
Local news agencies in Thailand reported comments of a top official in the ministry of Public Health's Department of Disease Control. The official said Zika has not become a serious outbreak in the country.
However, Thai Public Health Ministry officials say two women in the San Sai district of the city of Chiang Mai are being closely watched.
I'm Mario Ritter.
1.Southeast Asia 东南亚
Heath was acute in his assessment of Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
2.brain damage 脑损伤
Severe injuries to the head may cause more serious brain damage.
3.sexual contact 性接触
Unsafe injections and sexual contact can also spread the virus.
4.nerve damage 神经损伤
I got nerve damage and stuff like that.
1.He said the plan to deal with the disease places importance on limiting the spread of the disease and strengthening Zika virus and birth-defect surveillance.
deal with 处理
I have no way yet as to deal with such a complicated situation.
Imperical edicts could deal with very varied matters.
2.He said countries need to carry out, in his words, "effective surveillance and reporting systems" to closely observe the disease's spread.
carry out 实施；执行
No matter what we do, we must carry out our duties.
He hasn't the funds to carry out his design.
奥弗林（Roderico Ofrin）是世卫组织东南亚地区紧急事务所的负责人 。他说，各国需实施“有效的监管和报告制度”严阵以待寨卡病毒的传播 。
目前，寨卡病毒在南美的传播最为严重 。自2015年寨卡疫情暴发以来，巴西先后出现了数百起小脑症病例 。
据该杂志预计，约26亿人居住在适合病毒传播的地区 。而孕妇被感染的风险最大 。
然而，新加坡已经出现了240多起病例 。马来西亚和泰国也先后出现感染病例 。美国、英国、澳大利亚以及中国台湾地区已经公布了针对孕妇的旅行警告 。
新加坡卫生部和新加坡国家环境局报告称，本国的寨卡病毒来自于亚洲 。报告还指出病毒并非来自巴西 。
泰国当地新闻机构报道了公共卫生部疾病控制部一位高官的言论 。这位官员表示，寨卡尚未在泰国引发严重疫情 。
然而，泰国公共卫生部官员表示，清迈市讪赛(San Sai)区的两名女性正在接受严密监视 。