Off the wire
• Obama proposes to double U.S. clean energy funding  • Roundup: Former Finnish FM plans to launch new party  • Iraq builds security wall around Baghdad to protect civilians  • Syrian president's mother dies at 86  • New round of talks on Nile dam to begin in Sudan  • Anti-Islam movement PEGIDA rally in Germany against refugees influx  • Israel, U.S. to hold joint drill on ballistic missile defense  • Interview: Breastfeeding increases intelligence, boosts immunity: UN expert  • Hunger striking Palestinian prisoner in Israeli jail to "die at any moment"  • Trial mechanism for MH17 justice to be determined within six months: Dutch FM  
You are here: 　 Home

Colombia seeks outside help for combating Zika virus as sick cases top 25,000

Xinhua, February 7, 2016 Adjust font size:

President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos on Saturday said upon his request, the U.S. is sending experts to help his country fight and control the Zika virus from spreading.

An American team of doctors and scientists will soon arrive in Colombia to help fight the disease, said Santos.

In a meeting with health authorities held Saturday in Bogota, the capital of Colombia, Santos said that the number of people infected by Zika virus in Colombia had reached 25,646, including 3,177 pregnant women.

Health Minister of Colombia Alejandro Gaviria also stated at Saturday's meeting that there would be 600,000 and 700,000 people to be affected by the Zika virus in Colombia this year.

Santos said that the rapid increase had led him to ask U.S. President Barack Obama for help. During a meeting in Washington D.C. Thursday, Santos briefed President Obama about the situation of the mosquito-borne epidemic in his country and requested help, to which Obama agreed. Endit