People should not be unduly worried about Zika virus infection as the virus, which spreads through the Aedes mosquito, is still to appear in Bangladesh, UNB reported quoting an expert.

‘For now, risk of Zika virus infection is very low in the country,’ Prof Mahmudur Rahman, director at the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) told UNB.

As there is no case of Zika virus infection detected till now in the country, he said. Active cases of the virus must be imported from affected counties before it grows into an epidemic. But very few people are coming here from those countries affected so far in South America.  

The expert said the virus spreads through aedes mosquitoes, not human-to-human, and the peak reproduction period of the mosquitoes is the rainy season here, not now.

Once the Zika virus is imported from the affected countries, Prof Mahmudur observed, several years are required to spread the virus in the country and take it to the current levels seen in Brazil.

Zika virus has reportedly been linked to 4,000 cases of microcephaly in Brazil, in which babies are born with smaller than normal heads, raising global fears about a virus that was previously considered relatively benign.

According to media reports, at least 20,297 cases of Zika virus were confirmed in Colombia, including 2,116 pregnant women, making it the second-most affected country after Brazil.

Amid alarm over the surge in microcephaly cases, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Jamaica and Puerto Rico have even warned women to delay conceiving until the Zika outbreak is brought under control.

Prof Mahmudur suggested controlling mosquito breeding to prevent Zika virus infection in Bangladesh.

In a teleconference on Monday, WHO experts agreed that a causal relationship between Zika infection during pregnancy and microcephaly is strongly suspected, though not yet scientifically proven. All agreed on the urgent need to coordinate international efforts to investigate and understand this relationship better.

They also considered patterns of recent spread and the broad geographical distribution of mosquito species that can transmit the virus.

The lack of vaccines and rapid and reliable diagnostic tests, and the absence of population immunity in newly affected countries were cited as further causes for concern.

WHO says a coordinated international response is needed to minimise the threat in affected countries and reduce the risk of further international spread.

A coordinated international response is needed to improve surveillance, the detection of infections, congenital malformations, and neurological complications, to intensify the control of mosquito populations, and to expedite the development of diagnostic tests and vaccines to protect people at risk, especially during pregnancy.

Zika virus disease usually requires no specific treatment. People sick with Zika virus should take rest, drink enough fluids, and treat pain and fever with common medicines. If symptoms worsen, they should seek medical care and advice. There is currently no vaccine available, according to the WHO.