As Zika Virus Spreads Fast, Race For Vaccine Gathers Momentum

The explosive spread of the Zika virus determined the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a global emergency on Monday. This organization called the epidemics an "extraordinary event" threatening the Americas as well as other parts of the world. The virus is linked to birth defects.

Following a 2013-2014 outbreak in French Polynesia, now the mosquito-borne virus is causing an increase in babies born with small heads and brain defects in Brazil.

Independent experts have participated at Monday's emergency meeting in response to the surge in Brazil in babies born with microcephaly. According to Fox News, WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan declared that the committee advised after a review of the evidence that the clusters of microcephaly in Brazil constitute an extraordinary public health threat to other parts of the world.

Dr. Chan said that it is not possible to wait until more scientific evidence comes out to establish the scientific linkage between Zika and microcephaly and it is necessary to take decisive action now. At estimate number of up to 4 million cases of Zika is possible in the Americas alone by the next year. WHO shows it responsiveness this time after it was widely criticized for its slow response to the 2014 Ebola crisis in West Africa.

The WHO emergency declaration is meant to trigger increased efforts and funding to stop the Zika virus outbreak. It is also urging research into possible vaccines and treatments.

Jacques Wagner, the Brazilian president's chief of staff, declared that it might take between three and five years to develop a vaccine against the Zika virus. According to The Guardian, he also added that Brazilian researchers are working in collaboration with researchers in the United States in their race to find a vaccine.

Jimmy Whitworth, an infectious diseases expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, declared that, despite the lack of definitive evidence of a link between Zika virus and the surge in microcephaly cases, it is important for the WHO to act quickly.