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WHO declares Zika virus no longer international public health emergency

By Daniel Uria

GENEVA, Switzerland, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- The World Health Organization declared Friday the Zika virus is no longer an international public health emergency.

The WHO's Emergency Committee on Zika and microcephaly met for a fifth time and determined the mosquito-borne disease was no longer a global health threat under International health regulations.

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"Many aspects of this disease and associated consequences still remain to be understood, but this can best be done through sustained research," the WHO said in a statement. "The EC recommended that this should be escalated into a sustained program of work with dedicated resources to address the long-term nature of the disease and its associated consequences."

The Zika virus was first designated as a public health emergency in February following the emergence of an "extraordinary cluster" of microcephaly and other neurological disorders in Brazil and a similar outbreak in French Polynesia.

WHO Dr. Pete Salama said the Zika virus will now be treated as a chronic problem and could return seasonally like other mosquito-borne diseases, the New York Times reported.

"It is really important that we communicate this very clearly: We are not downgrading the importance of Zika," he said. "In fact, by placing this as a longer term program of work, we're sending the message that Zika is here to stay. And WHO's response is here to stay, in a robust manner."

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