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First two Zika cases confirmed in Poland

PR dla Zagranicy
Paweł Kononczuk 17.08.2016 11:29
Tests have confirmed what are believed to be the first cases of the Zika virus in Poland.
Photo: pixabay.comPhoto: pixabay.com

Tests carried out at a laboratory at the University of Warsaw confirmed that two people who returned to Poland from the Dominican Republic and Colombia were infected.

"As far as we know, these are the first cases of infection by the Zika virus in Poland," said Dr Renata Welc-Falęciak from the department of biology at the University of Warsaw.

Poland’s Chief Sanitary Inspectorate sought to assuage fears, saying this country does not have the "environmental and climatic conditions which could cause the spread of the disease.”

The Inspectorate added the risk of infection for people living in Poland “is associated with tourist trips to geographic regions where there is a prevalence of mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus.”

A major Zika outbreak was detected last year in Brazil, where it has been linked to more than 1,700 cases of the birth defect microcephaly. Since then the virus has spread to many countries in the Americas.

Some competitors have withdrawn from the Olympic Games underway in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, citing concerns over Zika, which is spread by a certain type of mosquitoes.

(pk)

Source: PAP

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