Algerians Express Fears After France First Zika Virus Case

French Health Ministry confirmed, on Friday, that it monitored the first case of “Zika” virus in the country, and the infected person is a non-pregnant woman, due to a sexual relationship with her partner who came from Brazil.

French Health Minister, Marisol Touraine, said on Saturday in a press conference, that it is the first sexually-transmitted “Zika” virus case in France and Europe.

“French non-pregnant woman was infected when her partner returned from Brazil, and she is doing well.”

With this news, the “Zika” virus is progressing rapidly towards countries that are far away from the disease area which is Brazil, refuting statements that “Zika” virus remains inside the Americas perimeter.

With the arrival of “Zika” virus to France, the fears of Algerians from the virus transmission are now legitimate, and refutes the Health Minister, Abdelmalek Boudiaf, recent statement, which considered that the “Zika” virus is very far from Algeria, and that the news about the disease are just dramatizing the subject.

In the subject, professor and specialists in infertility and biology of reproduction, and director of the clinic “Hibat Arrahmane” in Algiers, told Echorouk that even with the registration of the first Zika virus case in France, people should not fear of the disease, especially as it is only transmitted through sexual intercourse with an infected person due to the spread of the disease in the Americas region.

“Zika virus is transmitted by mosquitoes that are living in the tropics, and the infection is not spread through the air.”