The World Health Organisation on Monday declared the mosquito-borne Zika virus to be a global emergency, as the disease linked to thousands of birth defects in Brazil spreads rapidly.

The designation was recommended by a committee of independent experts to the UN agency, following criticism of a hesitant response so far. The move should help fast-track international action and research priorities.

After a review of the evidence, the committee advised that the clusters of microcephaly and other neurological complications constitute an extraordinary event and public health threat to other parts of the world. 
<b> Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General</b>
Daniele Ferreira dos Santos holds her son, Juan Pedro, as he undergoes an exam at the Altino Ventura foundation in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil, on Thursday, 28 January 2016. (Photo: AP)

The UN agency took the rare step despite a lack of definitive evidence proving the mosquito-borne virus is causing a surge in babies born with brain defects and abnormally small heads in Brazil and following a 2013-14 outbreak in French Polynesia.

Monday’s emergency meeting of independent experts was called in response to the spike in babies born with microcephaly in Brazil since the virus was first found there last year.

Officials in French Polynesia also documented a connection between Zika and neurological complications when the virus was spreading there two years ago, at the same time as dengue fever.

WHO, which was widely criticised for its sluggish response to the 2014 Ebola crisis in West Africa, has been eager to show its responsiveness this time. Despite dire warnings that Ebola was out of control in mid-2014, WHO didn’t declare an emergency until months later, after nearly 1,000 people had died.

If indeed, the scientific linkage between Zika and microcephaly is established, can you imagine if we do not do all this work now and wait until the scientific evidence comes out? Then people will say, ‘Why didn’t you take action?’
<b>Dr Margaret Chan</b>

The US Centers for Disease Control has advised pregnant women to postpone visits to Brazil and other countries in the region with Zika outbreaks, though officials say it’s unlikely the virus could cause widespread problems in the US.

WHO says the Zika virus could infect three to four million people in the Americas. (Photo: AP)
It is important to understand, there are several measures pregnant women can take. If you can delay travel and it does not affect your other family commitments, it is something to consider.
<b>Dr Margaret Chan</b>

On Monday, health officials added four more destinations to a list that now includes 28 locations, most of them in Latin America and the Caribbean.

If they need to travel, they can get advice from their physician and take personal protective measures, like wearing long sleeves and shirts and pants and using mosquito repellent.
<b>Dr Margaret Chan</b>

The last time WHO declared a public health emergency was for the devastating Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which killed more than 11,000 people. Similar declarations were made for polio in 2013 and the 2009 swine flu pandemic.

WHO estimates there could be up to 4 million cases of Zika in the Americas in the next year, but no recommendations were made to restrict travel or trade.
(Photo: AP)

Such emergency declarations are meant as an international SOS signal and usually trigger increased money and efforts to halt the outbreak, as well as prompting research into possible treatments and vaccines.

There are currently no licensed treatments or vaccines for Zika.

WHO officials say it could be six to nine months before science proves or disproves any connection between the virus and babies born in Brazil or elsewhere with abnormally small heads.

(With agency inputs.)

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