New Zealand welcomes WHO Zika declaration

The New Zealand government on Tuesday said the World Health Organization (WHO) had taken the appropriate measure in declaring the Zika a public health emergency.

"Although cases of the Zika virus have been reported for over a decade in New Zealand, it's generally been regarded as a mild illness," Health Minister Jonathan Coleman said in a statement.

"Recent developments overseas mean this declaration is the right step," he said.

"The WHO declaration follows international clusters of microcephaly and neurological conditions associated with the virus. By elevating this to a public health emergency, much needed research can now be fast-tracked," he added.

The threat within New Zealand was virtually non-existent as the country did not have the mosquito species, Aedes aegypti, which was spreading the disease.

"We have a longstanding program in place to protect our borders and reduce the spread of communicable disease," said Coleman.

"Passengers coming from Zika-infected countries are being given an information handout which has been translated into several languages. There are also large signs displaying this information at passport control," he added.

Until more was known about the virus, pregnant women or women planning to become pregnant should consider delaying travel to areas with the Zika virus, he noted.

Eight Zika cases had been confirmed in New Zealand this year, all affecting travellers who had recently arrived from the South Pacific. Endit