Zika emergency declared over but still needs 'intense action,' WHO says

The Zika virus outbreak is no longer an international health emergency but it needs ongoing, "intense action,"the World Health Organization says.

The committee on Zika and associated neurological disorders was convened by the UN health agencyto assess the outbreak that is spread primarilyby mosquitoes. It was declared an emergency nine months ago.

The emergency committee "felt that Zika virus and associated consequences remain a significant enduring public health challenge requiring intense action," WHO said in a statement on Friday.

The main concern is how the virus can result in severe birth defects when pregnant women are infected.

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WHO saidit plans to shift to a longer-term approach against the virus.

Nearly 30 countries have reported birth defects linked to Zika. WHO says more than 2,100 cases of nervous-system malformations have been reported in Brazil alone.

Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious diseases expert at theUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center, said the healthemergency declared by WHO was focused on understanding the rolethe virus played in the birth defectmicrocephalyand inGuillain-BarrSyndrome, adisorder that can lead to paralysis.

More needs to be done, including trying to develop a vaccine, he added.The removal of the emergency declaration
"doesn't change that fact."

Zikacan also be sexually transmitted.

Most infected people don't get sick. The viruscan cause a mild illness, with fever, rash and joint pain.

Dr. DavidHeymann, chair of theZikaEmergencyCommittee,said the Brazilian government is conducting studiesto look into the number of cases there, particularly in the northeastern part ofthe country.

The WHO's decision is understandable, given that the pace of newZikainfections has dropped off considerably in recent months, said Dr. AnthonyFauci, the infectious disease chief for the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

ButFaucialso noted that Brazilis heading into its hottest months, when mosquito activity peaks and the outbreak could intensify.

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