UN: Uphold abortion right amid Zika scare

The top UN human rights official called on Friday for countries with the Zika virus to make available sexual and reproductive health counselling to women and uphold their right to terminate pregnancies.

“Laws and policies that restrict her access to these services must be urgently reviewed in line with human rights obligations in order to ensure the right to health for all in practice,” UN high commissioner for human rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said in a statement.

His spokesperson, asked about countries such as El Salvador that criminalise abortion, told a press briefing: “That’s why we are asking those governments to go back and change those laws because how can they ask these women not to become pregnant But also not offer them first information that is available but also the possibility to stop their pregnancies if they wish so.”

Brazilian government health institute Fiocruz said on Friday it had discovered for the first time active Zika virus in saliva and urine samples and would investigate the possible transmission of the mosquito-borne virus through bodily fluids.

Fiocruz made the discovery after analysing samples from two patients and carrying out a partial genome sequencing of the virus, Paulo Gadelha, president of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, as Fiocruz is formally known, told reporters in Rio de Janeiro.

The WHO will seek $25 million for a six-month programme to fight the virus, including studies on whether it is spread by sex or by blood transfusion, a senior official said.

Planes landing in the UK from countries affected by the Zika virus should be sprayed inside with insecticide, the government announced on Friday, according to the Guardian.