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Zika virus spreads further; first pregnant patient in Europe

Zika virus spreads further; first pregnant patient in Europe

Posted February. 06, 2016 07:19,   

Updated February. 06, 2016 07:26

한국어

The first known case of the Zika virus in Europe was found in a pregnant woman. In Colombia, a patient died from Guillain-Barre syndrome, which is caused by the Zika virus, leaving global society in fear of the virus spreading.

The Spanish Ministry of Health announced on Thursday (local time) that a pregnant woman was diagnosed with the Zika virus after returning from a trip to Colombia. She is hospitalized at a medical facility in northeast Catalonia. This patient is 13 to 14 weeks pregnant and showed symptoms of the Zika virus after visiting an area where the virus is rampant. The Spanish ministry announced that they would conduct a thorough inspection on her to see if the fetus is infected as well. Nine Spanish people infected by the Zika virus were infected at travelling overseas.

In Colombia, three patients died from Guillain-Barre syndrome, which is related to the Zika virus. This disease causes paralysis by attacking the nervous system. Reportedly, the number of the Zika virus carriers in Colombia is at least 25,000 while the number of Guillain-Barre syndrome patients is around 100.

In Brazil, two cases of the Zika virus infection through blood transfusion were reported. The World Health Organization accordingly recommended that people who have traveled to countries where the Zika virus is widespread should not donate blood. Britain and Canada will prohibit people who visited Latin America from donating blood for 21 to 28 days after their return. The U.S. also asked those who went to Latin America not to donate blood.



파리=전승훈특파원 raphy@donga.com