The Zika virus, suspected of causing serious brain defects in babies, is likely to spread to all the countries in both American continents, except for Canada and Chile, according to the World Health Organization.
The WHO said in a statement that the mosquito-borne disease is already present in 21 of the 55 countries and territories across the Americas, due to a lack of immunity among the population. It added that the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which carries Zika, already prevails throughout the Americas besides Canada and Chile.
Brazil's Health Ministry in November confirmed the virus was linked to a fetal deformation known as microcephaly, in which infants are born with smaller-than-usual brains. Brazil has reported nearly 4,000 suspected cases of microcephaly, according to WHO data.
The WHO has advised pregnant women planning to travel to areas, where the Zika virus is circulating, to protect themselves from mosquito bites and to consult a healthcare provider before and after their trips. Most infected individuals merely get short-lived flu-like symptoms.
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