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New Zealand gov't announces Zika aid for Pacific Islands

Xinhua, February 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

Foreign Minister of New Zealand Murray McCully has announced a 500,000 NZ dollars (334,300 U.S. dollars) aid to help the Pacific region to counter the spread of the Zika virus on Thursday.

Murray McCully said that 250,000 NZ dollars out of the aid package would go to the World Health Organisation's Pacific Zika Action Plan while the rest would be given to "enable countries in the region to respond rapidly if required."

"Our package of support is targeted at prevention and detection measures and builds on our existing support for improving health outcomes in the region," said McCully.

The Tongan government issued an official warning over Zika Wednesday, advising women to avoid getting pregnant while attempts to contain the mosquito-borne virus are underway. Of the confirmed Zika cases related to Tonga, five were reported from New Zealand in people who had traveled to Tonga and became sick when they returned.

The WHO has declared an international health emergency over the virus, citing concern over a possible link with a rise in cases of microcephaly, a birth defect characterized by an abnormally small head. Endit