by Our Foreign Desk

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a global emergency on Monday evening over the Zika virus linked to birth abnormalities.

The UN agency took the rare step despite a lack of definitive evidence proving the mosquito-borne virus is behind a surge in babies born with microcephaly in Brazil and following a 2013-14 outbreak in French Polynesia.

“After a review of the evidence, the committee advised that the clusters of microcephaly and other neurological complications constitute an extraordinary event and public health threat to other parts of the world,” WHO director-general Dr Margaret Chan said.

The organisation, which was widely criticised for its slow response to the 2014 west African Ebola crisis, has been eager to show its responsiveness to the new epidemic.

“If indeed, the scientific linkage between Zika and microcephaly is established, can you imagine if we do not do all this work now and wait until the scientific evidence comes out?” Dr Chan said. “Then people will say: ‘Why didn’t you take action?’”

The WHO estimates there could be up to four million cases of Zika in the Americas in the next year, but no recommendations were made to restrict travel or trade.

“It is important to understand, there are several measures pregnant women can take,” Dr Chan said. “If you can delay travel and it does not affect your other family commitments, it is something to consider.”

Spain confirmed a fourth case of the virus yesterday, just as drugs giant Sanofi announced it would begin developing a vaccine.