Brazil officially declares Zika national health emergency is over

Brazil's Health Ministry declared on Thursday that the country's public health emergency as a consequence of the Zika virus is over.

The combination of actions to eliminate the Aedes aegypti mosquito by the government and the population is attributed to the reduction in cases.

However, Brazil's Secretary of Health Vigilance, Adeilson Cavalcante, highlighted that the fight will continue against the Aedes aegypti.

"The end of the emergency does not mean the end of vigilance and assistance. The Health Ministry and other relevant bodies will continue their policy to fight Zika, dengue and chikungunya, across all states and municipalities," he said.

By April 15, 7,911 cases of Zika had been registered across Brazil this year, compared to 170,535 cases throughout 2016.

In 2017, Brazil has confirmed 230 cases of microcephaly and associated nervous disorders in children linked to Zika, for a total of 2,653 since November 2015.

While 80 percent of Zika sufferers present no symptoms, the infection can cause fever, a rash and headaches in adults. The larger risk is for pregnant women as their infection can lead to microcephaly and other conditions in fetuses, sometimes leading to death.

The epidemic in Brazil, which spread to other countries, also sparked a scientific rush of cooperation to respond to this health emergency. --Bernama