Health officials in Baltimore have formed a group to combat against the threat being posed by Zika virus. The group has been created in line with the virus being declared as a public health emergency across the world by the World Health Organization.

The threat of Zika virus has left many regions in the Americans in medical emergency. According to Dr. Leana Wen, the Health Commissioner, the Zika virus situation is advancing at a fast pace, the creation of the group was revealed by Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake to make preparations for the worst possibilities.

Though since 1940s this virus has been present but recently its presence has been detected in the Americas, with cases particularly noted in Maryland, DC, Delaware and Virginia. “This is something that we in the Baltimore City Health Department are monitoring very closely every day with our partners at the state, federal and international levels”, said Wen. Zika virus is caused by mosquito bite and is potentially capable of causing birth defects, in which the newborns have abnormally small heads and brains. International trips have been postponed by many pregnant women to the impacted regions.

The Zika virus has no known vaccination. Zika has been found to be transmitted to 26 countries in North and South America in February 2016 alone. A community forum organized by the UC Davis Health System focused on the measures that can be taken to safeguard against the virus and also prevent its transmission. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are responsible for the transmission of Zika, which has common symptoms of fever, rash, reddening of eyes and joint pain.

According to Sacramento County public health officer, Dr. Olivia Kasirye, tropical and subtropical areas are the primary dwelling regions of the virus and the mosquito, but have been recently found in Latin America and the Caribbean. Dr. Kasirye added thatno vaccination or medication has been discovered for Zika prevention and treatment.